Event Director - East Africa Cluster

About us
dmg events is an international exhibitions and publishing company. We attract more than 650,000+ visitors to our global portfolio of 115+ exhibitions each year. Through our global events, our aim is simple: we want to accelerate business through face-to-face events, which is why we work so hard to bring people together, creating opportunities for them to network, learn and do business.

dmg events is part of the Daily Mail Group Trust (DMGT). DMGT manages a diverse, multinational portfolio of companies with total revenues of £2bn, providing businesses and consumers with compelling information, analysis, insight, events, news, and entertainment.

Job Purpose: To lead, grow, and deliver a portfolio of events, driving long-term growth, commercial performance, and industry impact.The role holds full P&L accountability, including international and local sales delivery. Acts as the strategic leader of the allocated events, ensuring strong cross-functional alignment (Sales, Marketing, Content, Operations) while adapting event brands, content, and commercial strategy to meet local market needs.Key focus areas include local market development, stakeholder engagement, sales delivery, brand positioning, and identifying new event opportunities.

Job Description

Event Strategy and Leadership

• Lead the overall event strategy, ensuring long-term growth, market relevance, and competitive positioning.

• Develop and maintain a 3-year strategic plan for each event and market outlook in line with the Event Delivery Playbook.

• Use data, market intelligence, commercial insights, and customer feedback to shape event direction and growth initiatives.

• Drive sustainable event growth, audience impact, and commercial performance.

• Ensure cross-functional alignment across Sales, Marketing, PR, Content, and Operations teams.

• Lead and facilitate regular event meetings to ensure alignment on objectives, priorities, and performance.

• Manage organisational complexity and competing priorities effectively while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.

P&L Management

• Own and manage the full event P&L, including revenue delivery, cost control, and profitability.

• Set, manage, and deliver event budgets and financial targets.

• Monitor event performance against budget through regular reviews of revenue and costs.

• Establish and maintain monthly forecasting processes to determine projected event outcomes.

• Provide accurate and timely reporting of event KPIs, forecasts, and financial performance.

• Liaise with Finance to meet all financial reporting requirements.

• Achieve revenue and contribution targets in line with approved budgets and forecasts.

• Ensure billing and collections are completed in accordance with contractual agreements.

• Ensure all outstanding debtors are collected in full prior to the event.

Commercial Leadership

• Drive total sales performance across the event portfolio in collaboration with internal sales teams, agents, and local market channels.

• Execute agreed sales and sponsorship strategies to achieve commercial objectives.

• Participate in meetings and negotiations with key customers, sponsors, and stakeholders.

• Monitor sales performance and ensure accurate reporting through Salesforce.

• Deliver revenue targets by both value and volume.

• Support the development of new revenue streams and sponsorship opportunities.

Stakeholder and Partner Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government bodies, industry associations, partners, and key market stakeholders.

• Strengthen the event's market position through effective stakeholder engagement.

• Ensure partnerships contribute to both commercial success and industry influence.

Brand Management & Market Adaptation

• Ensure event brands remain aligned with the wider portfolio strategy while adapting effectively to local market requirements.

• Oversee event positioning, messaging, value propositions, and market-specific branding initiatives.

• Drive exhibitor retention, audience growth, and market leadership.

• Oversee the development of relevant content programmes, event features, and marketing initiatives to maximise engagement and commercial success.

• Ensure event offerings remain aligned with industry trends and customer needs.

Marketing

• Oversee the development and execution of the event marketing strategy and objectives.

• Work closely with the Senior Marketing Manager to increase visitor attendance, audience quality, and overall event experience.

• Ensure event websites remain up to date and aligned with brand standards.

• Oversee database growth and development in collaboration with the database management team.

• Monitor marketing performance and ensure campaigns deliver measurable results against agreed KPIs.

Business Development

• Identify and develop new event concepts, launches, and vertical extensions within existing portfolio markets.

• Evaluate market opportunities, gaps, and customer demand to drive portfolio growth.

• Develop business cases and recommendations for new event initiatives and expansion opportunities.

Operational Delivery

• Oversee all operational planning and preparations to ensure successful event delivery.

• Ensure events are delivered to the highest standards of quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

• Work closely with Operations teams to ensure timelines, budgets, and service levels are achieved.

• Monitor event execution and implement continuous improvements to enhance the customer experience.

• Ensure all event activities comply with company policies, procedures, and operational standards.

Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Events, or related field.

• Strong understanding of B2B exhibitions (construction/infrastructure preferred).

Minimum Experience

• 10+ years in exhibitions/events with portfolio leadership responsibility.

• Proven experience managing full P&L and multi-channel sales (direct, agent, partner).

• Experience in multi-market environments (Africa/Middle East/Asia preferred).

Job-Specific Skills

• Strong commercial and strategic acumen.

• Expertise in market-driven brand positioning and event development.

• Ability to manage local partners, agents, and stakeholder ecosystems.

• Strong data-driven decision-making capability.

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams through alignment and influence.

Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic leadership and long-term thinking.

• Strong influencing and stakeholder management.

• Leadership maturity and ability to operate in complexity.

• High resilience and sound judgement under pressure.

• Strong ownership mindset and accountability.

• Ability to build collaboration, consistency, and performance across teams.

Please take the time to read the job description. You must meet all the criteria set out above for your application to be considered. We do check all applications, and suitable candidates will be contacted within 5 days. If you are not contacted by us within 5 working days, please consider your application unsuccessful at this time.

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