Skip to main content

EIA

Press releases

Subpage
21 Oct 2025

Events Industry Alliance announces board changes

Events Industry Alliance announces board changes

Following last week’s autumn board meeting at dmg events head office, the Events Industry Alliance (EIA) – the collective associations of AEO, AEV and ESSA – has announced several changes to the board structure as part of the annual association rotation.

Ian Taylor, managing director, NEC and AEV chair assumes the role as EIA chair for AEV’s term as lead, with Kerry Villa, COO, ACC Liverpool as AEV vice chair. Jeremy Rees, CEO, Excel London continues his role as EIA treasurer, as does Dino Gazzi as finance director.

Rachel Swann, chief operating officer – energy division, dmg events steps down as EIA chair and remains on the board with Alison Willis, CEO, Easyfairs UK & Global.  Andrew Williams, president, Maritime Group and EVP Informa Markets, joins the board as the final AEO representative.

Taylor commented, “Thank you to Rachel Swann for her efforts over the past year, I am looking forward to my term leading the EIA team as we continue advocating for the industry. As shown in the recent economic impact study published last month, business events and exhibitions boosted the UK economy by £11.5 billion business sales in 2024.”

Rob Brackstone, managing director, ESM and ESSA chair, Alexandra Bailey, managing director, Creative8 Ltd and ESSA vice chair and Marija Erzen, co-owner, Solutions2 all remain on the board.

The three association CEOs complete the board: Rachel Parker, AEV, Anna Golden, AEO and Andrew Harrison, ESSA.

The new EIA board will continue its work ensuring the events industry is counted including its work calling for a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the EU to ensure the UK can continue as a leading global destination for business events.

View all Press releases
Loading
 

  • The events industry is only as good as the sum of its parts – the EIA represents all parts of our amazing industry. We are members because together we are so much stronger and are therefore so much better placed to deal with both our challenges and the massive opportunities that lie ahead.
    Simon Parker
    CIBSE
  • The EIA serves as the quintessential industry forum and working group representing the cornerstones critical to all events; the organiser, the venue and the supply chain providing goods and services to the sector. Whilst it’s always been a valuable alliance for the industry, in these times of post-pandemic economic uncertainty and geo-political challenges, the ability for the industry to convene, confer and communicate as a unified sector is imperative as we seek to grow and have an even greater impact on the UK’s social and economic landscape.
    Shaun Hinds
    Newbury Racecourse
  • The EIA is a great forum for collaboration between three of the major UK business events associations. It’s so important as an industry that we speak with one voice, that we collaborate on the biggest issues that we face and that we build mutual understanding and respect. The EIA provides the opportunity to do all of these things and is a made more powerful by all of our contributions.
    Carina Bauer
    IMEX

Search