CHICAGO — Trade Show Executive’s People in the News section spotlights major personnel updates across the events industry.
In October 2024, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, RX, New York City Tourism + Conventions and more trade show power players announced pivotal promotions and appointments on their teams.
Event Organizers
RX promoted Toni Piela to Head of Strategy and M&A, RX USA. Piela was previously Vice President of Corporate Development and M&A at RX and has worked for the company since 2009.
Claudia Maurer, CEM, is now the Director of Koelnmesse GmbH’s spoga+gafa, a leading garden trade show in Europe. She has more than 15 years of leadership experience in the events industry and was previously a Marketing Communications Event Consultant, Pharma and Personal Care at Ecolab Life Sciences.
Restaurant Events, LLC., promoted Stephen Hess from Marketing Manager to Senior Marketing Manager. Before Restaurant Events, Hess was a Marketing Manager at Clarion Events.
Also, Restaurant Events promoted Paul Pedrow to the position of Vice President of Sales. He has more than a decade of management experience in the events industry, which includes roles at Clarion Events and Informa.
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Cole Sales joined the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America as the Senior Manager of Conference Events & Meeting Planning. Sales was named to the Professional Convention Management Association’s 20 in Their Twenties program for the Class of 2023 and is the Founder of Brand Repairman.
CommerceNext announced that Jennifer Marlo is its new Head of Content. Marlo has worked in professional content production for more than 10 years and was previously Head of Content & Programming at Ascendant Network.
Additionally, CommerceNext hired Kim Mancuso Telford as Executive Vice President. Before joining CommerceNext, Telford was General Manager at the events services company NY Now.
Industry Associations
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, selected Chris Skeith, OBE, as its next CEO. Following a tenure as the CEO of the Association of Event Organisers, Skeith will take over the role from Kai Hattendorf on Jan. 1, 2025.
Industry Partners
Julie Coker will become the new President and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions on Dec. 9, departing her current role as President and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority.
The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority chose Marcel Vernon Sr. as its new Executive Director. Vernon currently works as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance at Bay Cove Human Services.
Finally, Communication Exhibits, Inc., announced that Scott McLaughlin stepped down from the role of President, passing the torch to his son, Erik, while remaining Owner and CEO at the company. Erik is the third McLaughlin family member to be President at Communication Exhibits.
Stay tuned for more updates from TSE’s People in the News!
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