New Chair at NAA (People)
The National Arenas Association (NAA) elected a new chairman at its recent AGM in Earls Court, London. Abigail Parkin (12 Mar'09)
Phil Mead, Director of Arenas, The NEC Group (pic above), takes the chair for the next two years, taking over from Geoff Huckstep, CEO, TrentFM Arena Nottingham.
"The
NAA has achieved great strides forward in many areas in recent years
and I look forward to the opportunity to build on its initiatives in
training, event research, health and safety and best practice in
event management through the Event Managers Symposiums,” said Phil
Mead. “Most importantly, I believe we need to adopt a collaborative
approach across the entertainments and events industry in order to meet
the challenges ahead and move forward with clarity and focus and I will
work to support outstanding relationships we have with other industry
bodies such as the Concert Promoters Association”
The NAA
represents 16 venues across UK and Ireland which sold over 8.3million
tickets in 2006. To qualify for membership, venues must have an indoor
capacity of 5,000 or more and stage a minimum of 12 public events per
year.
“I have been honoured to chair the NAA for the past three
years at a time of unprecedented growth in the live music industry,"
said outgoing chairman, Geoff Huckstep. "I have no doubt that Phil will
be an outstanding chairman with his breadth of experience and knowledge
of venue management and at a challenging time for live music and I wish
him every success in his new role.”
The NAA also made
appointments to the steering group. Martin Ingham, deputy CEO at the
TrentFM Arena Nottingham, Malcolm Close, director, Operations at SECC
and Cormac Rennick GM, The O2 Dublin were elected.