Company Founder David Siegel to Become Executive Chairman and Continue to Lead Companywide Strategic Direction
ORLANDO, Fla. – March 27, 2024 – Westgate Resorts, one of the largest resort developers in the United States, has appointed longtime company executive Jim Gissy as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 5, 2024. Westgate Resorts Founder David Siegel will remain Executive Chairman of the Board & President and will continue to lead all major decision-making of the company.
As Westgate’s Chief Executive Officer Gissy is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s operations, sales and marketing. “It’s an honor to help lead this incredible organization and work side by side with the most talented group of Team Members in the industry. I am humbled to take on this responsibility from my mentor and friend for over forty years, David Siegel.”
Gissy joined Westgate Resorts in 1984 and immediately began setting sales records throughout the company and the industry. Over the next several years, he significantly expanded his management responsibilities, culminating in his appointment as Senior Executive Vice President. In 1996, Gissy was the recipient of the exclusive ARDY Award from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) as the Top Sales Executive and has received numerous other industry accolades and awards over his forty-year career.
Siegel, Westgate Resorts’ Founder, will continue to play an instrumental role in maintaining the company’s vision of providing exceptional vacation experiences and will remain involved in all major company decisions. As he has done for the past decade, Siegel is primarily focused on finding ways to solve the ongoing opioid epidemic through the Victoria’s Voice Foundation, named in honor of his beloved daughter. “Jim has been my right hand and friend going back forty years,” Siegel said. “Jim is an exceptional leader and I could not be happier to have him assume this role at my company. The future for Westgate is very bright!”
