Club hires Didier Saugy of Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club to succeed McCarren

Didier Saugy, the general manager of the renowned Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) of Hong Kong, will succeed Bill McCarren as the National Press Club's executive director.

The Club conducted a yearlong, global search to find its new executive director. McCarren announced earlier this week that he would retire this year. Didier will relocate from Hong Kong with his wife and 8-year-old son. The Club has not announced his start date. 

The FCC, under Saugy's leadership since 2018, successfully weathered 2019 Hong Kong protests and the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining open and vibrant throughout, the NPC said in a press release. The FCC has 2,200 active members, three restaurants and two bars.

"Didier stood out as someone with the knowledge and skill to operate a city club while also understanding the needs of journalists and the importance of a free press," 2022 NPC President Jen Judson said. "We were impressed by his ability to navigate the protests, the pandemic, and an environment often hostile to journalists, all while ensuring that the club remained profitable."

Saugy grew up in a small town near Geneva in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. He trained as a chef in Switzerland and owned a cafe. He worked in the hotel industry in Australia and China before becoming general manager of the FCC.