CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

He joined the NEC Group in 2014 as NEC Venue Sales Director and oversaw the commercial transformation of the exhibition business. Within two years, Ian was appointed Venue Sales Director of Conventions & Exhibitions, a role that saw him take responsibility for the commercial performance of the ICC and Vox Conference Centre, in addition to the NEC Venue.

In 2020, Ian became Managing Director for Conventions and Exhibitions - responsible for the management of the ICC, NEC and the Vox, as well as all convention activity in the NEC Group’s home venues.

Facilitating an ambitious growth strategy for conventions across the venues, his innovative focus continues to push the boundaries of event delivery.

Allan’s previous position with the Group, from 2014-2019, was Director of Event Services of the Group Convention Centres.  During that time, Allan significantly progressed event processes at the ICC and was heavily involved in the mobilisation and development of the Vox, which opened in 2015.  This position had further dual responsibility, handling operations not only at the ICC and Vox, but also The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) - which was under the successful management of the Group between 2014-2016.

Prior to his recent positions in Birmingham, Allan held the Catering Director role at the then newly built CCD, where he was tasked with setting up the catering contract and hospitality function. He was promoted into the role of Events Operations Director in 2010 to oversee the full operational delivery of the business.

Allan joined the CCD from the ICC, where over a 14-year period from 1995, he held a variety of positions, acquiring vast and in-depth knowledge about the venue, the region and the events industry.

Donna joined the NEC Group in February 2013 as Sales & Sponsorship Manager. Later that year she joined the ICC Sales Team as a Senior Account Manager, and in 2015 was promoted to Account Director. Two further promotions followed over the next five years as Donna was made Sales Director of the ICC and Vox in 2018 before becoming NEC Group Conventions Sales Director in 2020.

Donna has amassed great experience of the Group’s conventions business through her positions, and has been instrumental in shaping the corporate and agency business across the ICC and Vox. She was also heavily involved in the sales operation of the newly built Vox in 2015, taking on responsibility of the Vox Sales Team, restructuring appropriately and implementing new processes and strategy. These efforts, and the consequent success of the venues business, have led to Donna’s rise through Group sales management.

Before joining the NEC Group, Donna worked within local radio, being responsible for sponsorship & partnership for regional corporate and local authority accounts whilst managing the sales team and overseeing the sales strategy.

Kelly has over 20 years’ experience in marketing and communications and has worked for companies large and small from financial services to the media industry.  Kelly is focused on continuing to put the customer at the heart of our brands as well as building the reputation and awareness of the ICC, the Vox and the NEC as the UK’s leading conventions and exhibitions venues.

Beth is CIPD qualified with over 11 years’ HR experience and has worked for a variety of different organisations, including arts and events, heritage and also healthcare companies. Beth’s role is to develop and shape the HR strategy and people agenda for the ICC and Vox and ensure that we have the right people in the right roles with the right skills to deliver a great service to our clients.

Craig has vast experience in delivering outstanding conference and banqueting, and during his time with the Group has led the mobilisation of the catering operation at the Vox upon its opening in 2015, as well as being a vital support in his role as mentor to Amadeus colleagues at the Belfast Waterfront Conference Centre.   

Before joining the ICC team, Craig oversaw catering at Highfield Road Stadium, where Coventry City Football Club had great success in the FA Premier League.

He is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years post-qualified experience having qualified with PwC in Nottingham, and has previously worked in the leisure sector for Punch Taverns Plc.

In his current role as Divisional Finance Director, Ed is now responsible for the combined commercial finance team across the NEC, ICC and Vox. Ed works in partnership with the Managing Director and senior management teams, providing leadership in the development of strategy and financial plans to deliver on strategic objectives.