IAEE CEO to Step Down
Steven Hacker, FSAE, CAE, will leave the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (Dallas) when his contract expires Sept. 30, 2012. Hacker has served as the organization’s CEO since 1992. Under his leadership, IAEE grew to over 9,000 members (up from just under 2,600 when he took the reins).
"Having served IAEE since 1992 has been a remarkably rewarding experience,” Hacker said in a statement. “IAEE's leadership will now turn its attention to the very important task of finding a staff leader for the next phase of IAEEs' future.” The association has developed a comprehensive transition plan to find a new chief executive.
"We all think highly of Steven and the way he has represented IAEE for the past two decades. Giving us a year in which to properly plan for this important transition is an incredibly valuable opportunity that many other organizations do not enjoy,” IAEE Board Chairman Vinnie Polito said in a statement. “We will now turn our attention to carefully analyzing what kind of staff leadership the association may require in the years ahead. IAEE has an outstanding headquarters staff that we value highly. Making the right CEO selection is critical both for them and for us as members.”
Polito also said that the organization will update the public about the transition process periodically, but sending inquiries is premature at this time.
When asked what’s next for the longtime executive, he said, “I am just starting to give thought to post-IAEE life but [one option is] definitely not ‘retirement.’” Hacker also serves as director of the Travel Industry Association and is on the Board of Distinguished Judges & Advisors for the Media Section of the American Business Awards.
