Paul Thandi moves into NEC Group chairman role

The UK 's leading live events business, NEC Group, has announced that Paul Thandi, is to step into the position of chairman when Peter Phillipson, steps down from the board in September.

Thandi was appointed Group CEO in late 2006, bringing over 20 years ' experience in the media and events industries.

Since then, he has completely transformed the business, secured record levels of growth and turned it into a customer-centric and data-led organisation.

Thandi also joined GBCC CEO Henrietta Brealey for the CEO Stories podcast last year where he discussed his role in transforming the NEC Group into one of Europe 's leading leisure and entertainment operations by shifting to a customer-centric, data-led approach, while increasing its portfolio of businesses.

Having increased its portfolio of businesses and venues during this period, the Group now annually connects around seven million people through shared experiences of business, live entertainment, sport and leisure at more than 750 events.

It has hosted a wealth of world-class events during Thandi 's tenure, from the G7 Summit and Conservative Party Conferences, to Crufts, Concert for Ukraine, Wireless Festival and last summer 's Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Under Thandi 's stewardship, the Group has made multi-million-pound investments, redeveloping both arenas, introducing greater digital and ticketing technology and enhancing its business intelligence capabilities to name but a few.

He has also agreed major commercial partnerships with internationally renowned organisations such as Genting and Merlin Entertainments, creating strong destination credentials by adding to the existing leisure and entertainment facilities on offer in Birmingham city centre and on the NEC Campus.

In recent years he has also spearheaded an ambitious NEC Masterplan initiative and successfully steered the Group from public sector ownership to private ownership through two management buyouts.

The first was backed by LDC in 2015, and then a sale of the business in 2018 to the world 's largest private equity business, Blackstone.

As of 4th September, Melanie Smith CBE will take on the role of NEC Group CEO. Melanie has a wealth of leadership experience, most recently as the CEO of Ocado.com, and in prior roles as strategy and services director for Marks & Spencer, global strategy and marketing director at Bupa, and chief operating officer at TalkTalk.

Of his move, Thandi said: “To be at the helm of this incredible business for so many years has been an honour and I look forward to maintaining a key role in driving the growth of the Group.

“We have been lucky to secure Mel to take on the leadership position. The importance of our people and my belief in giving them the best leadership, support and strategy, are all values that Mel shares close to her in her business and personal life, and I look forward to working with her over the coming years.

“It has been the greatest pleasure being CEO - there are more incredible things to come for the NEC Group. ”