Experienced retail director joins NEC

AN EXPERIENCED retail director has joined the National Exhibition Centre’s team in Solihull.

Brian Pell, formerly of Westfield Shoppingtowns UK, is the NEC’s new director of operations following the retirement of Riach Ryder.

Over the last five years, Mr Pell has been responsible for the seven UK Westfield Shopping Centres, as well as the day-to-day management of Merry Hill in Dudley.

He has more than 25 years of experience in the UK and abroad of facilities services, estates management and maintenance engineering.

Joining on October 1, he will head up a team of around 2,000 people and be responsible for delivering a range of specialist services including event management, security, traffic, maintenance and temporary mains.

He said: “Having managed operations at several of Europe’s largest shopping centres – including Westfield London, Derby and Merry Hill – I’m delighted to be joining the country’s leading exhibition and live events venue, at what is a really exciting time for the business.”

Also joining the NEC team is Louise Hankinson as conference account manager.

She joins from the Belfry Hotel and Golf Club, in Coleshill, where she was the senior sales executive for three and half years.

She is now responsible for driving sales among professional conference organisers who are looking to deliver conferences where there is no exhibition content.