ESAE Appoints UICP Mohamed Mezghani as New President of the Society

Mohamed Mezghani delivers a speech about his upcoming presidency during the European Association Awards Ceremony on May 22, 2024.

The European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) has announced the transition of its presidency from Mike Morrissey, CEO of the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), to Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary-General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

Mohamed's election by ESAE’s Board of Directors followed Mike standing down after serving at the helm of ESAE since June 2021. Mike Morrissey will remain on the ESAE’s Board of Directors as past president. During his three-year tenure, Mike Morrissey played a pivotal role in enhancing ESAE’s relevance and impact.

His leadership saw ESAE hosting its first event at the European Parliament, designing the Association Leaders' Forum programme at IBTM, and successfully organising the European Association Summit & Awards 2024 (EAS). These initiatives have significantly contributed to the organisation's growth and member engagement.

Reflecting on this leadership transition, Morrissey said: “Mohamed is a fantastic and globally recognised leader in the community of trade associations and professional societies. With his expertise as the Secretary-General of UITP and his recent experience as one of ESAE’s Vice Presidents, I have no doubt he will bring ESAE to new heights. I look forward to supporting Mohamed’s leadership in the next chapter of ESAE’s journey and thank UITP for allowing him to take up this very important volunteer role.”

Mohamed Mezghani, who has been a board member of ESAE since 2021, has been instrumental in launching the European Association Awards in 2023. This initiative has reinforced ESAE’s relevance, further promoting its mission of advancing the recognition of the Association profession. His expertise and vision align with ESAE’s mission to raise standards in Association Management.

“It is an honour to be appointed President of ESAE. I congratulate Mike Morrissey for his successful tenure and his leadership in growing and professionalising the Association. I thank him and the Board for their trust and support. I look forward to working with and for ESAE members, partners and staff to increase the relevance of Associations and make them more influential” said Mezghani.

ESAE is the leading European organisation bringing together Association professionals. It facilitates the exchange of best practices among peers and ensures that current and future Association leaders understand the Association's business and strategy.