Didier Scaillet, CIS, CITP, has resigned as CEO of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence and the SITE Foundation after almost three years at the helm. During his tenure, SITE enjoyed record membership and retention levels, staged its biggest ever global conference, launched successful new programs such as Incentive Summit Europe, created the incentive travel industry’s first-ever Manifesto and built a best-in-class senior leadership team.
SITE President Jenn Glynn, CIS, CITP, worked closely with Didier, and says, “Didier has been instrumental in the growth of both SITE & SITE Foundation over the past three years and we’re immensely grateful for the leadership and expertise that he has brought to us. Whilst we are sad to see him step down, we also know that this is the right decision for him and his family and we support him fully.”
SITE Foundation President Carina Bauer concurs, saying, “During Didier’s leadership we crafted new mission, vision and values statements for SITE Foundation and, with our partners, FICP and IRF, confirmed the Incentive Travel Industry Index as the single, most important annual report into the nature, purpose, and direction of incentive travel. He also represented SITE & SITE Foundation with distinction on the Board of the Events Industry Council.”
One of Didier’s greatest achievements at SITE was the recruitment of a senior leadership team of true professionals comprising Tahira Endean, head of events; Rebecca Wright, CIS, CITP, head of chapter engagement; Samantha Nicastro, CIS, head of business development; Pádraic Gilligan, CIS, CITP, chief marketing officer; and Mark Swets, head of operations. This team will work closely with the volunteer leadership and, once the time is right, and it is deemed necessary, the Joint Boards will instigate a recruitment process.
Didier brought decades of industry experience having previously held senior leadership positions at Meetings Professionals International and Cruise Lines International Association. SITE benefited, in particular, from his strategic mindset, his global vision, his prolific brokering of ideas, and his analytical prowess.
Didier is taking time out to recuperate and recover following two difficult years on a personal/family basis but, following an entire career in the world of associations, he hopes to return to the industry, bringing his great experience, knowledge and expertise.
“From a personal perspective, both 2019 and 2020 have been extremely challenging years, and it’s now time for me to take a pause,” says Didier. “My love for SITE and SITE Foundation, and the entire incentive travel community, remains strong. I’m proud to leave behind a senior leadership team that can navigate the current turbulence and take SITE and SITE Foundation to new heights.”
SITE, the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence is the only global organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting the incentive travel industry. They connect incentive travel to business results. For their members they provide professional development, certification and business connections. SITE members help companies maximize workforce output by creating and delivering incentive travel programs that inspire people to exceed expectations and transcend their goals. Their research proves the ROI for incentive travel, which is a powerful business tool that strengthens employee retention, improves performance and fosters a culture of thoughtful motivation and sustained success. Over the last 45 years, SITE has grown to more than 2,300 members in 84 countries with 29 local and regional chapters. They also fund and conduct research through the SITE Foundation whose fundraising initiatives facilitate vital industry research, trend analysis and educational program support for incentive travel professionals. Their multi-tiered approach builds awareness and strengthens the effectiveness of incentive travel. For more info, visit SITEglobal.com.
