CEO Resigns As MPI Changes Course
The head of Meeting Professionals International announced today his resignation as president and CEO after an association board meeting last week in Orlando. Colin Rorrie, who had served as head of MPI since September 2003, said the decision was unexpected and that "someone with skills in the business arena would probably be best able to move the organization." He plans to leave his role within the week, he said.
Over the past six to eight months, MPI has been exploring opportunities to advance strategically and as an organization. The next step, Rorrie said, was adding a "business framework to this association" which was atypical among other industry associations.
"It was clear that when you talk about matrix organizations and profit and loss approaches to organization that the traditional organization lines do not hold in terms of organization design," he said, adding that his goals of broadening MPI's membership base and building a foundation for future growth had been met.
A number of significant organizational changes are expected to happen over the next three to six months, said Christine Duffy, chairwoman of the MPI board and president and CEO of St. Louis-based Maritz Travel Inc. Future changes would be announced as the board notified members and association leaders.
"There are some things we're thinking about implementing in the future and clearly all of the things that we had looked to Colin for when he had been brought in to this role had been accomplished," Duffy said. "It was through that discussion and conversation about what we needed in the future versus where we've been in the past three years that we came to this decision."
MPI's board of directors has asked MPI chairman-elect Mark Andrew, general manager of The Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina in Vancouver to lead the association as they form a search committee to recruit a new CEO. Starwood Hotels & Resorts has granted Andrew a leave of absence during this time.
Rorrie had signed a three-year contract when he was hired in 2003, which had an evergreen renewal option. Previously, Rorrie had served as an executive with the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Duffy said the organization has not ruled out bringing on another executive from the association industry to lead MPI.
"It's not corporate versus association," Duffy said. "It's really just about business and what are the right business decisions and structure in which to operate."