CEL, which manages the PLASA Show on behalf of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA), is the former in-house organizer of Earls Court and Olympia Group, and completed a management buyout last year. CEL will invest a two-thirds majority share in the joint venture which will acquire a portfolio of 10 shows including Antiques for Everyone and The Classic Motor Show. Simon Kimble, managing director of CEL will oversee the new venture and Deputy managing director, Kent Allen will spend the next three months working with the team to assess future business requirements.
CENL will stay located within NEC House with extended office space available for company growth. Centre's contract management team, which provides operational services support for a number of NEC shows, will transfer to a different department within The NEC Group. Kimble said: "We are very excited to be joining forces with the team at Centre and will be working to further develop the Centre portfolio of shows, while at the same time taking advantage of this excellent opportunity to launch new events. It is particularly pleasing to be creating a local base in Birmingham and a number of new launches are already in the pipeline with announcements planned over the coming months."
Andrew Morris, The NEC Group chief executive, said: "Developing our organising capability is a strategic priority for us and is an important part of growing the NEC's exhibition business in the future. In Clarion I believe that we have found the strongest of partners, and one that will help us create a new force in the exhibition organising community. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work once again with Simon Kimble and his impressive and successful team. This joint venture will break new ground and is particularly aimed at taking advantage of opportunities in the consumer show sector."
(Lee Baldock)
