Event Director – B2B Exhibition Launch

About the role

Exhibit Africa, an exhibition company focused on high-quality B2B events across East Africa, is launching a new B2B exhibition and conference and is looking for a commercially driven Event Director to lead it from concept to launch. This is a build-phase role, not a steady-state one, reporting to the CEO. It suits someone based in the Middle East who is open globally to candidates with strong exposure to Africa-facing markets and international exhibitors.

Key responsibilities

• Drive exhibition space sales independently and build and manage the exhibitor pipeline
• Lead outreach to manufacturers and distributors in China, India, Turkey and the Middle East, and lead sponsorship sales
• Refine positioning, pricing and commercial structure, and shape the exhibitor mix (solar, storage, EV, charging)
• Own the delivery timeline and milestones, coordinating operations, suppliers and local execution so the first edition is delivered on time and within budget
• Build relationships with exhibitors, partners and industry stakeholders, including government and institutional engagement (with local support)

Required profile

• 7-10+ years in B2B exhibitions and trade shows
• Proven track record of selling exhibition space and launching or scaling events
• Strong commercial mindset and cultural seasoning
• Experience working with international exhibitors and Africa-facing markets
• Desirable: energy/infrastructure sector exposure, existing networks in China, India, Turkey, UAE and East Africa, experience in emerging markets

What we offer

• Highly competitive salary
• Uncapped commission on exhibition sales
• Performance bonuses linked to key milestones