Trade Show Moves: Our July Roundup of New Hires & PromotionsTrade Show Moves: Our July Roundup of New Hires & Promotions
Messe Düsseldorf, Nineteen Group, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, and more welcome new leadership and staff, announce elevated roles.
August 1, 2025
The summer season is heating up with event-related organizations across the U.S. (and the pond) announcing a blaze of new hires, promotions, and executive team members.
TSNN’s take on the biggest recent move: Global trade show organizer Messe Düsseldorf appointed Claire Steinbrück as executive director, responsible for leading the newly created Global Corporate Development and Strategy division.
Big picture: Steinbrück’s division will combine strategic key areas including new product development, market research, partner and guest events, international business, and the newly created Corporate Development unit. This structure aims to enable more effective management of international expansion while strengthening Düsseldorf as a globally connected trade show destination.
Need to know: Steinbrück brings extensive international trade show experience, having previously worked at Messe Frankfurt in Germany and abroad (Mexico, Argentina, and Italy) before joining Koelnmesse in 2016, where she most recently served as divisional director of the global food technology portfolio.
What they’re saying: “Strategic foresight, centralized coordination and effective structures are needed to continue playing in the premier league of the global trade show business in future,” said Messe Düsseldorf President and CEO Wolfram N. Diener. “With Claire Steinbrück, we have filled our top-management position with an excellent candidate to further strengthen our company’s global pole position.”
What she’s saying: “I look forward to contributing my expertise to an environment that already embraces internationality – and is now anchoring this even more firmly in its structure. With its strong portfolio and global networks Messe Düsseldorf boasts excellent prerequisites for developing new markets and providing strategic impetus for the future.”
Nineteen Group
London, U.K.-based exhibitions and media company Nineteen Group has appointed Justin Childs as COO of its Americas division. The Phoenix Equity Partners-backed company brings Childs on board with more than 15 years of experience in strategy, marketing, and transformation across events, media, and digital communities.
In his role, Childs will support Mary Larkin, president of Nineteen Group Americas, in expanding the company’s presence throughout the U.S. and North America via acquisitions and organic launches. He began his trade show career at Diversified Communications under Larkin's leadership, who was appointed to her current position earlier this year.
Prior to joining Nineteen Group, Childs held leadership positions at Informa, Clarion, and most recently, served as Chief Marketing Officer at Arc Network.
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) has announced the promotions of Annette Sujo and Daniel Hernandez to manager, destination services.
In their new roles, Sujo and Hernandez will work with groups ranging from 250-2,500 attendees on peak nights as well as serve as liaisons between meeting planners, ACVB’s member organizations, and internal departments.
After both joining ACVB in 2021, Sujo started as coordinator, sales and service before advancing to assistant manager, destination services, in 2024, while Hernandez began as destination services coordinator before becoming assistant manager in 2024.
Chattanooga Convention Center
The Carter Street Corporation, which manages the Chattanooga Convention Center for the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tenn., has appointed Sam Voisin as the new executive director of the Chattanooga Convention Center. He succeeds Mike Shuford, who is retiring after 40 years of service at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
In his new position, Voisin will manage the 300,000-square-foot facility’s daily operations, collaborating with elected officials, civic leaders, the Chattanooga Tourism Company, hotel properties, staff, and vendors to maximize utilization and economic impact. He will also lead long-term planning and capital improvement initiatives.
Bringing 30 years of experience in the entertainment and hospitality industries, Voisin most recently served as president and COO of Notes Live, Inc., overseeing high-end entertainment venues. His previous leadership roles include positions with ASM Global and Ambassador Theatre Group, as well as operations roles for the Branson Convention Center, Shreveport Convention Center, and the historic Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.
Tradeshow Logic
Full-service show management and event solutions company Tradeshow Logic promoted Bobby Bergeron to executive vice president of vendor strategy, an expanded role in which he will lead the company’s newly enhanced Vendor Strategy Solution. A 20+ year veteran with Tradeshow Logic, he brings extensive industry expertise to his new position.
The company has also welcomed Katherine Dow as account executive, tasked with helping show organizers drive trade show and event growth through strategic sales support. She brings extensive experience in exhibit space, digital and sponsorship sales, with a strong background in domestic and international event launches. Previously, Dow served as sales manager for Commercial UAV Expo at Diversified Business Communications and held various account executive positions.
Visit Savannah
Visit Savannah has announced the retirement of Chief Sales Officer Jeff Hewitt, effective December 31, concluding his 15-year tenure with the organization and 40-year career in tourism and hospitality.
Since joining in 2010, Hewitt has significantly elevated Savannah’s profile as a premier meetings and conventions destination, and under his leadership, room night production grew from 80,000 to over 315,000 in 2024, while the city doubled its hotel room inventory. He also played a crucial role in the Savannah Convention Center’s major expansion.
Hewitt has been active in industry associations including ASAE, PCMA, and Destinations International, and currently chairs the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus.
Kellie Linder has been named Vice President of sales and services and will lead Visit Savannah’s sales team starting January 2026.
The Georgia CVB also recently welcomed Nora Gorman as its new director of sales for the Midwest and Western territories. She brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and will be based in Chicago.
In her new role, Gorman will lead strategic sales initiatives across key markets in the Midwest and West, working to attract meetings, conventions, and group business to Savannah. She will serve as a primary point of contact for meeting planners and industry professionals in her territories and represent Savannah at trade shows, client events, and industry conferences.
Comexposium
Global event organizer Comexposium has announced the appointment of Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti as CEO, effective August 25. He succeeds Renaud Hamaide, who has led the company since 2010.
Cerruti most recently served as managing director in charge of diversification at Mediawan, Europe’s premier independent studio, where he was also a member of the group’s Executive Committee since 2024. Concurrently, he has been president of Copheam since 2023, supporting investors and companies in real estate, hospitality, and transformation development projects.
Previously, Cerruti was CEO of Viparis from 2018 to 2023, after serving as deputy director and then deputy CEO of the same company between 2014 and 2018. Before that, he worked at Unibail-Rodamco as director of communication and institutional relations in 2011. His earlier career included serving as a speechwriter in Christine Lagarde’s private office at the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industry from 2009 to 2011, and as managing director of the Prometheus corporate foundation, appointed in 2007.
Visit Sacramento
Visit Sacramento has appointed Veronica Rivera as its new director of convention sales and services. Bringing more than 15 years of experience in California’s hospitality and tourism industry to the organization, she joins from the San Diego Tourism Authority, where she served as national sales director for nine years. Her career includes diverse roles in hotel operations and sales, with expertise in supporting and delivering exceptional meetings and events throughout California.
In her new position, Rivera will lead the CVB’s convention sales and services department, working to drive innovation and performance within the sales and services team, implement strategic sales initiatives, and strengthen collaboration with hotel and venue partners.
Rivera is also recognized for her industry leadership as the co-founder and president of the California DMO Alliance, representing more than 85 members across 53 destinations.
Hawai‘i Convention Center
The Hawai'i Convention Center, managed by ASM Global, recently added three new professionals to its culinary and events teams: Dianne Javier as director of events, Vikram Hermon as director of food and beverage, and Janice Kamemoto as associate director of events.
Bringing nearly two decades of experience in event operations and venue management, Javier most recently served as assistant director of event services at the San Diego Convention Center, where she worked for 18 years in progressively responsible positions including senior event manager and event manager/coordinator.
As director of events, she oversees the daily operations of the Events and Facilities Departments, sets strategies, ensures high-quality client service, serves as principal liaison for event needs, and manages logistics for high-profile events.
Hermon brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience to his role overseeing food and beverage operations and staff. He most recently served as assistant general manager of food and beverage at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
His previous positions include director of banquets at the Omni Louisville Hotel and banquet manager at the Hilton Minneapolis. Hermon has created dining experiences for high-profile events including Super Bowl 2018 and the NCAA Final Four championship and has served prestigious guests including President Barack Obama.
With nearly 20 years of experience in sales, event management, hospitality, and operations in Hawai'i, Kamemoto most recently served as operations and guest experience manager for YMT Vacations. She previously worked as tourism and guest services manager at Ala Moana Center and held several sales and events roles at the Hawai'i Convention Center.
Visit Atlantic City
Visit Atlantic City has appointed 15-year hospitality, destination marketing, and convention sales veteran Anthony Molino as its new vice president of sales. His career includes prominent roles across major markets including Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., representing organizations such as McCormick Place, Marriott, Choose Chicago, Hilton Worldwide, and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Molino most recently served as director of convention sales at Chicago’s McCormick Place, where he led initiatives to enhance client engagement, grow key accounts, and strengthen hotel partnerships. A recognized industry advocate, he has been a multi-time finalist for MPI’s RISE Awards and is an Illinois Meetings + Events Hall of Fame inductee. He actively participates in organizations including MPI, PCMA, Destinations International, and the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association, has served as a guest lecturer at top universities, and raised over $15,000 for HIV/AIDS research through Team2End AIDS.
San Diego Tourism Authority
The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) appointed Artrice McNeil as national sales director, focusing on generating citywide group business from the Washington, D.C. market.
Bringing nearly 20 years of travel and tourism sales experience, most recently serving as director of Washington, D.C., accounts for Experience Columbus, McNeil’s destination sales background includes positions with Visit Nashville, Choose Chicago, and the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. She also has hotel sales experience in the D.C. region.
In her new role, McNeil will collaborate with SDTA’s Senior National Sales Director Angie Ranalli and will concentrate on securing mid-sized groups requiring up to 3,500 peak rooms for San Diego’s convention hotels and venues.
