He was chairman of QTA. A few years' back that organisation became National Tourism Council (QNTC) with the prime minister as chairman. The board comprised other government ministers but also included the CEO of Qatar Airways and the head of Katara. It's an august group, liberally sprinkled with royals, so maybe that's when the elevation happened.

It seems al Baker's tourism niche is now secretary general of the QNTC, which would normally mean that he runs the show as its chief executive, answering to the board. But he's probably got his work cut out running the airline and the various associated businesses of which he is CEO.