MPI CEO resigns
Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO of Meeting Professionals International, is stepping down after six years. He will not renew his contract when it expires at the end of June. “I’ve been blessed to work directly with an inspired group of volunteer leaders, management colleagues and industry partners over the past six years,” MacMillan said. He began to think about his options when the industry started to recover from the recession, and determined it’s better to leave when the association is in good shape. “It just makes sense to leave at this point, given where we are,” he explained. Cindy D’Aoust, MPI’s COO, will replace MacMillan on an interim basis. D’Aoust joined MPI in April, and has been directing the rollout of MPI’s strategic business plan alongside MacMillan.
During MacMillan’s tenure, MPI updated and expanded its membership and chapter models; reinvented its relationship with the MPI Foundation to develop more content; redesigned its live events, including the creation of a hosted-buyer model; and introduced a global training practice. “Bruce has been a visionary catalyst, guiding the organization through a time of intense economic challenges—all while helping to bring to life MPI’s strategic plans for robust growth and innovative, rich content and programs,” said Sebastien Tondeur, international chairman of MPI. “We are thankful for his many years of dedicated service both as CEO and as a member volunteer. He is leaving MPI well-positioned for the future.”
MPI’s board is in the process of appointing a committee to oversee the search for MacMillan’s permanent replacement. “MPI will be looking for someone who can help us aggressively expand our global presence, partners, and programs, building on the momentum we’ve already established,” said Kevin Hinton, executive vice president of Associated Luxury Hotels International and head of the search committee.
MacMillan was president and CEO at Tourism Toronto before MPI hired him in 2006. He has no immediate employment plans.
