AEV announces board renewal | Events Industry News

Following the Association of Event Venues (AEV) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Monday 16 September 2024 at the Silverstone International Conference and Exhibition Centre, AEV has announced changes to its board of directors.

Chairman Ian Taylor (managing director of NEC), deputy chairman Kerry Villa (COO of ACC Liverpool) and treasurer Jeremy Rees (CEO of ExCeL London) all remain on the board.

Taylor thanked outgoing chairman Sean Hinds for leaving Manchester Central, saying: “Membership, engagement, interaction and financial health are all strong. AEV is in very good shape when Sean leaves and I look forward to continuing the work we have done previously.”

O2 vice president and general manager Steve Sayer was re-elected to the board, with the following members duly elected to fill casual vacancies earlier this year: Rob Wicks, managing director of P&J Live, Andy O’Sullivan, chief executive of Olympia Events, Sarah Marshall, venue director of Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre and Lori Hoinkes, chief executive of Manchester Central.

Taylor added: “We have taken the time to review our strategy and recognise that the key elements to achieving our goals are continuing to advocate for the industry and ensuring we have the funding and resources to support and serve our members. We now have 48 members, 9 associate members, 16 working groups and held 52 meetings in the past year. As always, we are very grateful for the contribution of all our members.”

The meeting, which brings together members of the Board and Working Group, is followed by the Association’s annual Presidential Event, including a visit to the host site.

Welcoming the new board members, AEV Director Rachel Parker said: “I am delighted to welcome the duly elected and re-elected members back to the Board. We are busier than ever and I look forward to a very productive year ahead, starting with our Annual Meeting at the ICC in Birmingham on Thursday 14 November.”