The New England Culinary Institute (NECI) announced that Dr. Richard J. Scaldini will serve as the interim president of the culinary school. Since the fall of 2013, when founder and CEO Fran Voigt relinquished the daily duties of the office, Richard Flies has served as acting president helping guide the school through a time of transition, most recently helping to secure contracts with Sandals Resorts and the United States Coast Guard.

Dr. Scaldini is a member of the Registry for College and University Presidents, which provides schools with higher education professionals in times of transition. Before joining the Registry. Dr. Scaldini served as president of Hiram College, Myers University, and The Washington Campus. He also enjoyed a successful career in international banking, serving as a managing director of corporate finance with Union Bank of Switzerland. Dr. Scaldini is enthusiastic about the future of the school based on the originality of the educational model and the highly successful careers pursued by NECI alumni.