11
NEC stalwart James bows out
The NEC Group has announced
that its MD for conventions and
exhibitions, Kathryn James, will
be retiring after 12 years with the
company.
Since joining as MD in 2007,
James has led the strategic
direction for the largest of the
Group’s five divisions – the NEC
– focusing on exhibitions, live
events, conferences and long-stay
experiences.
James navigated the business
through a global recession and
introduced a significant
outsourcing programme that
catalysed the evolution of Team
NEC; uniting the NEC and
operating partner service delivery
under the one umbrella.
She also supported the
deployment of the Group’s
‘masterplan’, overseeing the
development of the NEC Campus
into a 24/7 destination, which
now welcomes 7m visitors
annually.
In 2016 James took on
additional management
responsibility for the Group’s
second division of conventions
and conferencing the ICC, based
in Birmingham city centre, and
the Vox on the NEC Campus
within Resorts World Birmingham.
Attracting an estimated 2.8m
visitors and delegates annually
under James’ remit, the venues
have hosted major conferences
and congresses like Specsavers
and the Conservative Party
Conference.
James says of her time with the
Group: “The NEC Group is unique,
and I will miss the whole team.
We’ve helped organisers deliver
some outstanding events and I’ve
had the pleasure of working
alongside the world’s top event
organisers. There are great plans
for the future of
the NEC Group
and I look forward
to seeing them
come to fruition.
However,
I’m going to
enjoy taking
the time for
some
well-earned
rest.”
MOVING UP
Emma Egan
Emma Egan has taken
on the role of senior
client services manager
at agency TEN6
Creative.
Dagmar Mackett
DRPG has announced
the appointment of
Dagmar Mackett as its
new global development
director.
Rhiân Pressley
Westminster-located
Royal Horticultural Halls
has appointed Rhiân
Pressley to its in-house
team as venue sales
manager.
Louise Lowe
ExecSpace, a UK venue
finding agency, has
announced the
appointment of Louise
Lowe as its new
commercial director.
Jim Sharpe
London venue Central Hall Westminster’s Great Hall was the setting for
Craig David’s TS5 DJ set for BBC One’s ‘Live New Year’s Eve Concert’.
White Light, an AV company, were chosen as Central Hall Westminster’s
in-house technical production partner. White Light provided the lighting
and rigging for the live show.
www.conference-news.co.uk
Event technology
company Aventri has
announced the
appointment of Jim
Sharpe as its new CEO.
Digest