After a comprehensive search, the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Board of Directors has appointed Paul Van Deventer MPI president and chief executive officer, filling the top leadership role for the largest global meetings and events industry association.
Most recently, Mr. Van Deventer served as a Vice President in the Health & Wellness Division at Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in the United States. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing revenue generation and client retention for Walgreens' $500 million suite of employer-focused healthcare solutions. During his tenure at Walgreens, Mr. Van Deventer also led the national sales and account management team for the company's $1 billion Prescription Benefit Management (PBN) subsidiary, Walgreens Health Initiative.
"Having led business groups for blue chip Fortune 100 companies, Paul is a seasoned senior executive with both international and travel industry experience and a proven track record for driving growth, creating brand value and developing high-performing, engaged teams from the inside out", said Kevin Hinton, MPI Chairman and Executive Vice President of Associated Luxury Hotels International.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Van Deventer spent 22 years with American Express. While there, he had direct experience with the business travel sector and meetings and events when, as Senior Director of Multinational Sales and Operations, he led a $350 million global business unit with responsibility for more than 50 business travel customer service centers, 500 employees and a meetings/events group focused on the automotive industry. He also spent two years directing American Express' $3 billion travel and corporate card businesses in Australia and New Zealand. In his last position at American Express, Mr. Van Deventer built and led a team managing $8 billion in global corporate card relationships with the company's largest multinational customers. His team achieved annual double digit top-line revenue growth, while delivering 32% year-on-year international growth, $1.9 billion in new sales and achieving 'world- class' status in 14 of 14 employee satisfaction dimensions.
