WASHINGTON — The American Psychological Association has appointed Ian D. King, MBA, as its first executive director for member recruitment and engagement.
King joins APA after having spent seven years as director of marketing and member services at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In that post, he played a key role in managing the organization’s approach to membership, engaging with both internal and external stakeholders, and revamping the member value proposition to include a suite of new member benefits.
“Ian has a strong understanding of how a large membership organization like APA can best serve and engage its members,” APA CEO Norman B. Anderson, PhD, said in announcing the appointment. “He has experience in all aspects of membership operations and management, including marketing, technology, data-gathering and analysis, finance, budgeting, communications and general administration. He is aware of the membership challenges APA has faced and is enthusiastic about bringing his skills and abilities to our association.”
King’s prior positions include founding a startup company that offered career information and job search tools for life scientists and directing sales and marketing for that organization after it merged with a sister publication, The Scientist.
King’s portfolio includes APA’s current membership marketing team and the APA membership service center, both the operations and fulfillment functions. An energetic and optimistic team builder, King plans to develop a fresh, coordinated department with responsibility for member recruitment, retention and engagement.
“I am excited by the opportunity to work for such a great organization,” King said. “APA already offers its members significant value. Our goal is to refine and enhance our offerings so that we deliver tools, services and experiences that help our members in every stage of their career.”
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.