IMEX Team
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Ray Bloom (Chairman, IMEX Group) has assembled an experienced team of industry professionals to ensure the success of IMEX: |
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Carina Bauer (CEO, IMEX Group) has been involved in the meetings industry since 2002, first as Marketing and Operations Director of IMEX and now as CEO. As well as overseeing the IMEX Group’s operations, Carina has special responsibility over the Group’s marketing and communications mix, specifically concentrating on strategic partnerships, sponsorships and press relations. Carina has served on the Board of the MPI UK Chapter and on MPI’s International Multicultural Committee and as Marketing Chair for the MPI European Meetings and Events Conference in London. Prior to this she held the position of Managing Director of GoodBean Coffee, a family owned chain of coffee shops located throughout the South of England. This business, of 13 operating stores, was sold in December 2001. Carina holds a degree from Oxford University in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. |
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Paul Flackett (Managing Director, IMEX Group) has been involved in the meetings and incentive travel industry for some 30 years, first as an organiser of conferences and events and then in the media field. Paul joined EIBTM at its launch and was managing director until it was sold to Reed Travel Exhibitions. In May 1999 he left Reed to set up his own company pf.redseven and, in September 2001, jointly announced with Ray Bloom the launch of IMEX. Paul has been a Site member since 1988 serving as Site International President in 1995 and Site Foundation President in 2002 . He gained the CITE qualification in 1994. He has also served as an MPI Chancellor and is currently Vice Chair of the DMAI European Advisory Council. In 1998 Paul was voted Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine personality of the year and in 2004 received the Moises Shuster award from ICCA in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the meetings industry. He has presented dozens of seminars across the world. |
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Joy Brabyn (Strategic Director) has worked in the meetings and incentive travel industry for the past 15 years. Joy's main focus has been the EIBTM hosted buyer programme, which she developed from around 600 international buyers to in excess of 3000 buyers. When the exhibition was sold to Reed Travel Exhibitions she held the position of Relationship Marketing Director. Joy joined Ray Bloom and Paul Flackett in September 2001 as Marketing & Promotions Director for IMEX, and took up her current position of Strategic Director following IMEX 2003. |
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Tom Hulton (Director of International Relations) joined the advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather following a short career in the British army. With O&M, he was based in London and Singapore handling a number of hotel accounts. He joined Trusthouse Forte Hotels for a period of eight years as Director of Sales for the Asia Pacific and Middle East. During this time, he was also Director of Sales and Marketing at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. He then joined Supranational Hotels as Managing Director and developed this reservation and marketing hotel consortia into the third largest in the world. Following several years as Secretary General of the International Hotel Association based in Paris, Tom joined the International Congress and Convention Association as Chief Executive Officer based in Amsterdam. In July 2002 and after nearly eight years with ICCA, Tom decided to return to the UK and set up his own consultancy. He currently works with IMEX as Director of International Relations, with special responsibilities for helping to raise the political profile of business tourism within Government circles in Europe by developing the ‘Politicians Forum’ and the IMEX ‘Future Leaders Forum’. tom.hulton@imexexhibitions.com
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Sarah Shepherd (PA to Ray Bloom/Group Travel Coordinator, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in November 2002 as a temp and was offered a full time position as Marketing and Promotions Administrator in December 2002, before joining the Hosted Buyer Team in 2003. Sarah took up her current position in June 2008. Sarah has seven years experience in the hotel and catering industry after gaining a Diploma in Professional Catering. After changing direction Sarah worked as an administrator in both the public and private sector in sales and marketing and customer service. |
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Sales |
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Heather Gough (Sales Director, IMEX Group) has worked in the meetings and incentive travel industry for over 14 years. Her experience includes six years with EIBTM where she progressed from the managing director's PA to Sales Manager. This was followed by 12 months as Project Manager for an event management company, based in Brighton, organising international conferences and incentives, including the International Diabetes Federation Congress for 8,500 delegates in Mexico City. Having joined IMEX as Sales Manager in September 2001, she is now Sales Director. Heather holds a degree from the University of Wales, College of Swansea in French and Italian with Business Studies. |
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Jon Bradshaw (Business Development Director, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in March 2004. Jon's sales career began in 1993 in the international publishing division of the BBC. In 1996 he moved to IAPA to work on their membership magazine First Class, before joining EIBTM in 1999. He then spent three years as Sales Director for Premier Global, the UK's largest provider of personal fitness training courses. Jon was promoted to Business Development Director in June 2009. Away from IMEX Jon runs his own performance coaching business and is an active sportsman having recently completed a 5,400 charity bike ride across Europe. |
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Oliver Bailey (Sales and Organising Manager, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in January 2004 from Brighton-based Martlet, where he was involved in travel logistics projects within the medical meetings arena. He also worked for Congress World on the 18th International Diabetes Federation Congress in Paris in 2003. Prior to this Oliver worked as marketing manager for a London-based consumer exhibition and for Meeting Planner magazine. Oliver was promoted to Sales and Organising Manager in July 2006. |
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Faye Bennett (Sales Manager, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in October 2005 and has over four years experience in the meetings industry. She previously worked for a Surrey based venue finding agency, starting as sales support executive in 2001, promoted to business development executive in 2003. In her previous role she was responsible for sales and account management and worked on a variety of events including the World Tax Conference, company away days and product launches. Prior to this Faye worked in marketing and administration. Faye was promoted to Sales Manager in June 2009. Faye is currently studying for a BA degree in Literature with the Open University. |
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Alex Donaldson (Sales Manager, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in April 2010 with over 12 years experience in the meetings industry. Having graduated with a BA Honours degree in Hospitality Management, Alex joined Reed Exhibitions as Sales Executive working on Hotelympia and Hospitality Week. In 1999 she joined Chelsea Village as Sales Manager for Meetings and Events. In 2001 she became Assistant Director of Sales at Radisson SAS Portman Hotel before becoming Director of Sales at the new Radisson SAS Stansted Airport. Before joining IMEX, Alex worked for Chess Partnership, a London-based hospitality recruitment consultancy. |
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Richard Allchild (Sales Executive, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in September 2008. After graduating Royal Holloway, University of London, with a BA History degree he joined Haymarket Business Publications in London where he worked as sales executive on publications inclusing PR Week, Black Book, Conference & Incentive Travel Venue Directory and Incentive Business Magazine. Richard left Haymarket in 2006 to study business management at CCSN in Las Vegas. In 2007 he rejoined Haymarket in their New York office selling for their flagship New York title PR Week, before moving back to the UK to join the IMEX team. |
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Hosted Buyer Programmes |
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Nikki Williams (Director of Hosted Buyer Programmes, IMEX Group) joined EIBTM in 1996 assisting with the hosted buyer programme following a career in hotel management and publishing. From March 2001 Nikki held the position of Relationship Marketing Manager working on EIBTM, AsiaPacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) and the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) to source buyers to attend these shows. Nikki left Reed Travel Exhibitions to join IMEX as Marketing & Promotions Manager. Nikki took up her current position as Director of Hosted Buyer Programmes following IMEX 2003 and holds full responsibility for sourcing and delivering hosted buyers to IMEX. |
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Alan Ford (Operations Manager, Hosted Buyer Programmes, IMEX Group) has worked in the travel industry for the last 18 years, including seven years spent working overseas in Portugal, Switzerland, Cyprus, Spain, France and Italy as a Holiday Representative, Ski Guide and Supervisor for TUI Travel Plc. During the last 11 years Alan worked for First Choice Ski & SkiBound Holidays in the UK and held roles in Customer Services, Administration, UK Operations and Sales. For the last six years Alan held the position of Product and Operations Manager responsible for contracting hotels, flights and ski services as well as the overseas operations. Alan joined IMEX in August 2010.
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Sam Mosselman (Senior Account Manager – Hosted Buyer Programmes) joined IMEX in the summer of 2002 working with Nikki Williams and Joy Brabyn on the hosted buyer programme. Her career in the travel industry started 15 years ago after obtaining a Diploma in Travel and Tourism when she joined Airmiles, part of British Airways. Since then, she moved into other sectors of the industry including Continental Airlines where her responsibilities included all aspects of marketing including aircraft launches, new route launches, advertising, promotions and PR for the UK and Ireland. Sam was promoted to Senior Account Manager, Hosted Buyer Programmes, Europe following IMEX 2004. Based in Germany
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Sarah Arnold (Account Manager – Hosted Buyer Programmes) began her career as a customer services representative at Air 2000 after completing an honours degree in Hospitality Management. In 1998 she joined the Paramount Hotel Group as Events Manager, based at their Brighton hotel. In 2000 Sarah moved to Paraxel MMS Europe as Project Manager organising international meetings within the pharmaceutical industry including symposia and exhibitions. Sarah joined the hosted buyer team in September 2005. Currently on maternity leave. |
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Annie Speyer (Account Manager - Hosted Buyer Programmes, IMEX Group) has worked in the meetings industry for the past 10 years. She was Event Manager for Medicultura France, responsible for the logistics of the annual conference for the European Association for Hospital Pharmacists. In 2001 she joined PPSI as a project manager, where she managed international advisory boards, symposia, speaker training and stand alone meetings as well as organising the attendance of her clients and their delegates at European and international congresses. Annie joined the hosted buyer team in July 2007. |
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Donna Fung (Account Manager - Hosted Buyer Programmes, IMEX Group) has nine years experience in the meetings and events industry with eight years previous experience in the travel industry. Donna worked as a project executive for Martlet, the conference and incentive division of Sportsworld, for four years. Since leaving Martlet, Donna has freelanced taking on the planning and operation of congress activities, stand-alone meetings and seminars as well as international congress participation. |
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Lucy Dancer (Account Manager - Hosted Buyer Programmes) began her career as a public relations consultant. She then worked for a Japanese government sponsored programme based in Japan, acting as an ambassador of British culture setting up educational and cultural events within the Kumamoto region. Lucy joined IMEX in October 2007. Lucy holds a degree in English Literature, and a Diploma in Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations. |
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Vicky Standen, (Account Manager, Hosted Buyer Programmes) has a strong background in customer services and account management. She has worked in a range of sectors, including Healthcare where she held the position of Key Account Manager for Covidien UK Ltd, and in the travel industry working for Monarch airlines. Vicky has over 10 years experience in building and maintaining strong customer relationships, delivering internal and external training programmes and organising seminars and conferences. Vicky joined the hosted buyer team in September 2010. |
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Sally Bates (Account Executive - Hosted Buyer Programmes) joined IMEX in May 2008 after taking a career break to raise her family. Sally has 15 years experience as a customer services manager working in the Card and Financial Services Divisions of American Express, and holds a Diploma in Business Studies. |
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Online Services |
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Christopher Perrins (Director of Online Services, IMEX Group) has been involved in event management for most of his working life, encompassing a whole range of activities from rock concerts in the middle of a muddy field, right up to the present day with IMEX. Christopher has worldwide experience, having lived and worked in Australia, Hong Kong, North America, and several European countries. The integration of new technologies, particularly the Internet, as a marketing and communications tool, has been Christopher’s brief for much of his career. Christopher joined IMEX in January 2003, after five years with Reed Exhibitions, and was promoted to his current position in November 2009. |
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David Broadus (Online Services Executive, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in February 2010. David grew up in sunny California where he embarked on a career in marketing and sales promotion for several department store chains in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. After relocating to New York City he moved into the world of conferences and exhibitions as registration manager for The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where he worked on many financial conferences throughout the United States. David immigrated to the UK in 2007 and worked as data analyst for publications and exhibitions for Optima Data Intelligence Ltd before moving to IMEX. |
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Marketing |
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Oliver Hone (Marketing Director, IMEX Group) has been dedicated to marketing throughout his career of nearly 20 years. For many years he worked in and ultimately managed the Marketing departments of several of the UK’s and the world’s leading recruitment consultancies, understanding and applying the many facets of marketing to help build and support recognisable brands in this very competitive business-to-business world. In amongst all this, he spent a couple of years agency side to get first-hand experience of both a design agency and the world of PR. In March 2010, attracted by the challenge of a new industry and the success and the growth plans of the IMEX Group, Oliver joined us, and hopes to transfer a wealth of marketing experience as well as relationship building to complement our effective Marketing team. Along with his experience, Oliver has a degree in Psychology from the University of Reading. |
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Sophie
Jackson (Marketing Manager, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in November 2003
from the communications division of VisitBritain where she held the position
of International Markets Manager leading a team responsible for assisting
the UK tourism industry in developing new business from overseas. Sophie
joined VisitBritain in 1997 from the marketing department of Orient-Express
Hotels.
Sophie holds a degree in European Business Studies, an Advanced Diploma in Communication Studies and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. |
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Ellie Scott (Marketing Executive, IMEX Group) has worked in the meetings industry for over six years. Starting out as a marketing assistant for Universal Pictures Video, London, Ellie joined the Meeting Services Department of PPSI in 2002, organising congress participation for pharmaceutical clients. She then left PPSI to take a gap year travelling through South East Asia, where she spent six months working in New Zealand. Rejoining PPSI in 2004, she progressed to Assistant Project Manager, organising international stand alone conferences, training meetings and symposia. Ellie joined IMEX in January 2010. Ellie graduated with a degree in Business Studies specialising in Marketing. |
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Teresa Kwok (Marketing Executive, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in July 2010 with six years marketing and event management experience. She began her career in the research department at English Tourism Council on a work placement, as part of her Business and Tourism Management degree. After graduation, she worked as the Communications & Events Executive at UKinbound. Her passion for travel inspired a gap year to South America and Australasia. Teresa has held various marketing roles within the travel and events industry. teresa.kwok@imexexhibitions.com
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Rachel Munro (Marketing Assistant, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in March 2009. Rachel has 15 years experience in marketing administration, customer service and office management gained in both the private and public sectors. |
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New Vision Projects |
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Dale Hudson (Head of Project Development, IMEX Group) began her career working for EIBTM as a marketing co-ordinator before going on to complete a BA Honours degree in Management, specialising in environmental practices within the meetings industry. After graduating she worked as a marketing manager and then as a head of corporate communications within education and then for two of the country's leading incentive houses. During the two and a half years with them, she held the position of Senior Project Manager, responsible for incentive marketing – devising pharmaceutical incentive plans and as Project Manager, organising incentive trips for various commercial companies. Dale was promoted to her current position in December 2009. Dale is currently a member of the Board of GMIC (Green Meeting Industry Council). |
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Debbie Woodbridge (Project Manager) has worked in the meetings and incentive travel industry for 12 years. After working for EIBTM on the hosted buyer programme for six years Debbie left to work as Sales Manager for Martlet, the conference and incentive division of Sportsworld, one of the UK’s leading corporate hospitality organisers. Debbie spent three years at Martlet successfully assisting the company in developing their conference & incentive division to become one of the leading event organisers in the UK, designing and organising highly creative events all over the world for a variety of corporate clients. Debbie joined the marketing team in June 2008 from the hosted buyer team where she was Account Manager. Debbie was promoted to her current position in December 2009. |
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Sylvia Taylor (Project Assistant, IMEX Group) started her career with Sportsworld Travel working on the corporate programme for the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympics. Sylvia then moved to Martlet as a conference organiser for incentives and medical meetings. She joined IMEX in 2005 from PPSI where she was a Senior Project Manager, responsible for organising international meetings within the pharmaceutical industry including symposia and exhibitions. Sylvia worked initially in the Hosted Buyer Team as an Account Manager and transitioned to Hotel Planning Manager before joining the Marketing Team in August 2010. sylvia.taylor@imexexhibitions.com
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Organising |
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Nalan Yilmaz (Organising Director, IMEX Group) has been involved in the exhibition industry for 12 years, beginning her career as Project Manager for a trade show and special events company based in Munich, Germany. During her six years with the company she planned, organised and supervised trade shows in various German cities. In April 2001 Nalan joined Hall-Erickson in Chicago, helping to organise The Motivation Show, the world's largest incentive merchandise and travel show. When she returned to Germany Nalan became a freelance event organiser based in Munich organising events in Germany. She joined IMEX early in 2002 and was promoted to her current position of Organising Director after IMEX 2004. |
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Finance |
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Jo Frost Maidment (Finance Director, IMEX Group) graduated from London University with a degree in Mathematics and Statistics. She later trained with Coopers and Lybrand qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1983. After a number of years working as an auditor with both Coopers and Lybrand and KPMG, she took over responsibility for the finance departments of EIBTM and Incentive World. She has been involved with IMEX since its launch in September 2001. |
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Hilary Burtenshaw (Finance Manager, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in November 2002. Prior to this she worked in accounting roles within the travel, exhibition (Incentive World), retail, utilities and finance industries. Hilary passed the Diploma Certificate Level AAT Accounting Qualification in June 2008 and the NVQ Intermediate Level AAT Accounting Qualification in June 2009. |
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Harriet Fisher (Financial Accountant, IMEX Group) graduated from Middlesex University in 1998 with a degree in Criminology with American Studies and became ACCA qualified in 2005. Harriet joined IMEX in March 2010 from Fender Musical Instruments where she held the position of Financial Accountant. |
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Emma Norman (Office Manager, IMEX Group) has 15 years customer service experience working in the travel, medical and financial industries. She joined the Premier Medical Group in 1998, and progressed through the company to become the Operations Manager for sister company, Rapid Trauma Assessment in 2005. In 2004 she returned to University and achieved a Level 5 Diploma in Management. Until recently Emma worked as a Customer Support Manager for Jubilee Service Solutions before joining IMEX in February 2010. |
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Achilleas Schizas (Accounts Supervisor, IMEX Group) joined IMEX in 2006, initially organising travel visas for international hosted buyers before taking up his current position. Achilleas holds a degree in IT from the University of Sussex and passed the Diploma Certificate Level AAT Accounting Qualification in June 2009. |
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Lorraine Fraser (Accounts Assistant, IMEX Group) has worked in various finance environments over the last 10 years including manufacturing, diagnostics, insurance and education. She passed the Association Accounting Technician Qualification in March 2003 and became a member of the AAT the following year. She has also recently passed Level 2 in Bookkeeping with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and become an associate member of the organisation, hoping to take Level 3 in the near future. |
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