PEOPLE MOVES
2
MINUTES
WITH...
Steve Sayer, vice president and general
manager at The O2
MOVERS &
SHAKERS
1
How did you get into the event industry?
I started working with Manchester City Football Club many blue moons
ago, my career at City gave me the opportunity to get involved in all
aspects of major event delivery.
Favourite thing about events?
The buzz of live events and the fans reacting to their favourite artist or
team.
2
What do you think you can bring to the new role?
Energy, enthusiasm, knowledge and the ability to build confidence and
develop talented people.
70
What will you do in the first month in the job?
Meet all the teams, seek feedback and set the strategic agenda.
What’s on your desk?
Laptop, iPhone, blue tooth speaker, photo of my two girls, reusable coffee
cup and bottle of water…oh and a few papers.
3
How do you intend to face the challenges in the industry?
Being humble, being aware of market trends, tapping into the AEG
network, creating a culture that embraces changes and innovation.
4
Best piece of advice?
Be bold and brave, embrace change.
Funniest work moment?
Negotiating a venue hire contract for a boxing fight, with the boxer
himself…David Haye.
Dream job?
I’ve been blessed in my career in football and music and entertainment…
but running a beach bar is a side dream.
Who is the individual you most admire?
Can I have two: Jeff Bezos on a business level, Nelson Mandela for being
a great and inspirational human.
At EN HQ, we take our coffee very seriously - how do you take your
coffee?
Cappuccino with sugar. EN
February 2019 | exhibitionnews.co.uk
Event construction business
Setsquare Staging has
announced three new
appointments.
Dominik Short joins as
managing director, Charlotte
Mason (2) takes over as chair,
and Reno Macri as non-
executive board director.
Jo Burton (3) has changed
roles from senior operations
manager at Telegraph Events to
operations manager at UBM.
Creative agency Space has
appointed Andy Preston and
Alex Hazell as deputy creative
directors, and James Newport
as design director.
Biggest frustration?
Backpacks on the tube!
Crowning moment?
Getting promoted to VP and GM of the world’s most successful
entertainment destination was a very proud moment.
Mel Shah (1) has joined dmg
events, as vice president of its
South East Asia energy sector.
Shah will grow the company’s
energy events in Asia, which
currently include Bangkok’s
Future Energy Asia, the Gas
Asia Summit held in Singapore
and Jakarta’s Gas Indonesia
Summit.
5
Harrogate Convention Centre
has appointed Paula Lorimer (4)
as the company’s new director,
starting in early 2019. Lorimer
brings more than two decades
of high-level event industry
experience to the Harrogate
job, including the role of deputy
CEO at Manchester Central and
sales director for International
Confex.
The Association of Event
Venues (AEV) has announced
the appointment of Jamie
Anderson, venue director, SEC
Food and Amy Chong (5),
venue retail manager, ExCeL
London, as the new Chair and
Vice-chair, respectively, of the
AEV Catering Working Group.