New board appointments at the AEV

The Association of Event Venues (AEV) has announced that Graham Stephenson, chair of the board and chief operating officer at Business Design Centre (BDC), will be stepping down, with immediate effect. Jeremy Rees, executive director, ExCeL London and vice chair, will succeed him as chair, with board member and director of exhibition sales at SECC, Dan Thurlow, assuming the duties of vice chair.

Vacating the role, Graham Stephenson reflected on his time as chair, “It has been a very positive and eventful year for the AEV, and I am very proud of what the board and the association have achieved in that time, including the great success of the association's first conference. It is with the utmost confidence and some sadness that I am relinquishing the chair to Jeremy, and I know that his knowledge, experience, and commitment to championing the needs of the venues will serve the association well.”

Rees welcomed his new role as chair of the AEV board, saying, "Since being elected to the board in 2014, and to the position of vice-chair last year, I've worked with my colleagues on the board to ensure our member venues' needs are met by the association, through expanding the range of member benefits, developing the roles of the working groups and representing members at the regulatory and legislative level. As vice chair, I've worked very closely with Graham, particularly around the inaugural AEV conference and the success of that event is a testament to Graham's tenure. As I assume the chair, I would like to thank Graham for his sterling work at the helm of the board, and wish him every success in his new role."

Thurlow commented, “Having had the pleasure of working extensively with Jeremy as part of the AEV conference steering group, I'm looking forward to supporting him in the chair, and continuing our mission to deliver added value to our members and the wider events industry.”