After 10 years leading two incentive research foundations, first the Site Foundation and then the Incentive Research Foundation, IRF President Frank Katusak has decided to step down and the search for a new leader has begun.

In what he admits was a difficult decision, Katusak said, “The IRF research agenda and the management activities of the Foundation have substantially increased, which underscores the need for the IRF to return to a full-time president. I reduced my schedule this year to part-time and declined the opportunity to return to full-time status in 2010.”

As president, Katusak has been responsible for the overall operations of this nonprofit private institution, which has been at the forefront of research into the science of motivation and incentives. Among its most recent projects was a vertical study of incentive activity by markets; the IRF is also working on a joint survey with Corporate Meetings & Incentives magazine, due out in January, on the impact of incentive cutbacks on sales, motivation, and retention.

Katusak will be assisting in the search for a new leader and guiding the transition through the spring of next year. For more, visit the IRF Web site.