US mountain resort operator Vail Resorts has promoted deputy general counsel Julie DeCecco to head the company’s legal team, replacing GC David Shapiro who is leaving later this month.

DeCecco takes over as GC after seven years with the company, where she has overseen legal matters for its corporate functions and its mountain division, which consists of 41 resorts in four countries. She also leads the company’s real estate division, and as GC, will now be responsible for all legal, governance, compliance, audit and health and safety matters. Colorado-based Vail Resorts runs mountain resorts in the US, Australia, Canada and Switzerland, including locations such as Breckenridge and Whistler Blackcomb.

Kirsten Lynch, Vail Resorts CEO, said: “Julie is a proven leader who has played a crucial role in nearly every aspect of our business over the last seven years. I am pleased to see Julie promoted into this role – a testament to our company’s strong talent pipeline and diligent succession planning. Julie’s thorough understanding of our business and extensive legal expertise will be an asset to Vail Resorts as we continue to grow.”

Prior to joining Vail back in 2017 as associate GC, she spent four years at healthcare company DaVita, also as associate GC. She also had spells at legal outsourcing business Outside GC and Sun Microsystems (which was later acquired by Oracle), having also spent a brief spell in private practice as an associate at Caplan and Earnest. She started her legal career as a law clerk in the Colorado Supreme Court.

Shapiro, meantime, will remain on at the company until 23 February to ensure a smooth transition, before departing to pursue an unspecified new career opportunity. He leaves after almost a decade as GC with the company, having joined in 2015, also from DaVita. Until 2022, he headed up Vail’s environmental sustainability, charitable giving and public affairs functions as well.

Lynch said: “I want to extend my gratitude to David Shapiro for his commitment and leadership during his nearly nine years as general counsel of Vail Resorts. He had a meaningful impact on our company, the business, and development of talent during a period of transformation and growth. We wish him the best in the next chapter in his career.”