Leadership

Geoff graduated from the University of Birmingham with an LLB Law honours degree, before starting his career in publishing. He moved in to the events industry holding numerous senior roles including being the Global Managing Director of IIR Exhibitions. Geoff set up and created two events businesses which he went on to sell to Messe Frankfurt and Clarion respectively. In 2010 he returned to the corporate world by joining dmg events and currently operates as the CEO using his entrepreneurial experience to foster a culture of launch and innovation.

Des joined dmg events as Chief Financial Officer in June 2025.

After studying Economics at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, Des qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte and worked on multi-sector audit and corporate finance projects for a decade before starting his career in the events industry. He worked at trade exhibitions organiser Hyve plc (then called ITE Group) as Group Controller, Interim CFO and Group Finance Director between 2012 and 2019, during a period of growth and transformation from a business focused regionally on emerging markets (mainly Russia, Central Asia and acquiring businesses in Asia) to being community and brand-led. From 2019 to 2025, Des was CFO of Encore EMEA, a Blackstone-backed event services company providing AudioVisual services to corporates and large events, including COP28 in Dubai and UAE National Day celebrations in Abu Dhabi.

Matt Denton is the President of dmg events, leading over 70 events across 16 countries in sectors such as construction, interior design, hospitality, transport, entertainment & amusement and food & beverage.  

He began his career in the exhibitions industry during his school years, working in marketing and design roles. In 1998, he joined dmg world media as Head of Marketing for a portfolio of UK Consumer Shows. After roles at Turret RAI and XPO Group, where he managed exhibitions for major brands, he became the UK Group Events Director for Expomedia Group plc, integrating acquired events into the portfolio.  

In 2008, Matt moved to Dubai as Commercial Director for Turret Middle East, focusing on business development and acquisitions. He rejoined dmg events in December 2010 as Vice President, leading the construction portfolio. Over four years, he expanded the portfolio from two events to fifteen, completed two acquisitions adding seven events and two publications, and increased revenues from $22 million to over $50 million.  

In 2015, Matt became President of dmg events USA and the global digital marketing portfolio, managing offices in the US, Japan, UK, Australia, New Zealand and India. He played a significant role in the sale of this portfolio to Comexposium.  

In 2016, he returned to Dubai as President of dmg events. Matt's growth strategy focuses on adapting strong brands to local markets and collaborating with partner organizations to bring collective strengths to emerging regions.  

In 2022, dmg events formed its first joint venture with the Dubai World Trade Centre, creating dmg & KAOUN Ltd to expand and develop existing expertise into new global events. Building on this success, the company continues to pursue joint venture strategies with other global organizers.  

Throughout his career, Matt has demonstrated a commitment to expanding the reach of established brands and fostering partnerships to deliver high-quality events tailored to diverse markets. 

Christopher has more than 20 years’ experience in the global events industry, including in launching and managing some of the energy sector’s most prestigious and well-attended events.

These include dmg’s flagship energy events - ADIPEC, Gastech, Global Energy Transition Congress and Exhibition (GET) and the Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition, in addition to other major energy events across the world, in countries including the UAE, USA, Italy, Singapore, Japan and many more.

Christopher works across the energy sector, with public and private sector collaborators, including many of the world’s leading national and international energy companies, industry service provides, national oil companies, and other key government bodies.

Christopher was appointed the President of dmg events in 2015, following a distinguished multinational career managing exhibition and conference businesses in both B2B and B2C capacities. He has specialist experience in launches, product expansion, geo-cloning, and acquisitions across a wide range of industry sectors.

Prior to joining dmg, he held senior positions with Montgomery Exhibitions, IIR Informa, Messe Frankfurt, and Clarion events. He has lived and worked extensively in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

Galen joined dmg events in January 2011 after spending ten years as President of Hanley Wood Exhibitions.

He began his career in events in 1977 with the Greater New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission. In 1983 he founded Precision Planning & Sales (PPS) Inc, an exhibitions management company, which he sold to Miller Freeman in 1993, where he served as Group President for the Dallas Division prior to joining Hanley Wood in January 2000.

Agop Niksarlioglu is Chief Technology Officer at dmg events, leading the company’s technology, data and digitisation agenda.

He brings more than 20 years of international experience, including over a decade working across exhibitions, conferences, business media and digital event communities.

Before joining dmg events, Agop held senior roles in technology operations and transformation at Hyve Group, formerly ITE Group, Searchlight Consulting and London Metropolitan University.

He has established digital operating models, led multicultural teams and delivered large-scale cloud, enterprise applications and data programmes. He has also supported acquisitions, carve-outs and integrations across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, surpassing £1B in combined deal value.

Combining deep events-industry knowledge with expertise in enterprise architecture, CRM, data, AI and cloud technologies, Agop focuses on turning technology investment into measurable business growth, stronger customer experiences and more connected event communities.

Ben joined dmg events in March 2020 as Strategic Projects Director. His role is to provide support to the CFO and CEO on a range of strategic projects, including acquisition planning and integration, market assessments, strategic planning and business continuity planning.

Ben actually worked for dmg events earlier in his career in both group business development and operational roles, leaving at the end of 2009.  Since that time and before re-joining dmg events, he has co-founded a procurement consultancy and a digital agency and more recently has been working independently as a strategy consultant to a number of businesses across the events, digital media and travel industries. 

Erik joined dmg in October 2010 and is responsible for strategy and acquisitions across the dmgi and dmg events portfolio of companies. In his role, Erik works with the leadership of our portfolio companies to help identify and evaluate new growth opportunities and assist in the evaluation and execution of acquisitions.

Prior to dmgi, he held a number of business development and strategy roles including; Senior Director, Strategy and M&A at Lexis Nexis, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at PRIMEDIA and Consultant at Marakon Associates, a strategy management consulting firm

Ben has a wealth of experience in media having worked in Leadership positions with UBM, Future, Emap, MEED and The Spectator. With a commercial background, he has worked in high growth multi-platform environments with events and exhibitions always intrinsic to the media mix. During his career, Ben has managed 100's of brands and operated in 25 different markets with specific experience in the UK, Middle and the Far East, Australia and throughout Europe. 

Whilst both of Damian’s parents are English, he was born in France and raised in Italy, Portugal and Morocco.

Damian joined the Energy division of dmg events in 2012 since when he has launched multiple international events, built and managed global event portfolio teams, and run the commercial sales team and sales agents for Gastech 2016 (Japan) and Gastech 2017 (Spain).

Damian then had the opportunity to second with Gartner (management consultancy, research and advisory) in their B2B Sales & Marketing Solutions division, where he was inducted and certified as a Sales Enablement practitioner.

Damian was also a member of the executive steering committee involved in the purchase and carve out of Challenger Inc. from Gartner by Marlin Equity.

Damian subsequently returned to dmg events in 2019 where he joined the leadership team as a Project Director leading commercial due diligence in the acquisition of the CWC Group portfolio of 11 events and a team of 25 staff.

Damian then went on to become the Vice President of this new business division where he led the full integration and roll out.

Damian has since become Senior Vice President where he has taken on the leadership of the Africa Energy portfolio, which operates across Sub Saharan Africa.

Prior to joining dmg events Damian held careers in both the Performing Arts as a professional Actor, and in the IT sector as an accredited Network Technician.

Damian holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Performing Arts and an Associate's Degree in Information Technology, and in 2025 will be embarking on an MBA in International Business Management from Warwick University.

Elaine O'Connell is the Senior Vice President of the Design and Hospitality division at dmg events. She has 19 years of experience in the Middle East exhibitions industry, starting as a marketing executive at Informa Middle East before moving into a commercial role at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, where she spent 15 years. Her portfolio of events includes INDEX, The Hotel Show, and Workspace in the UAE as well as a growing number of events in the design and hospitality space in Saudi Arabia, along with Saudi Entertainment and Amusement, Saudi Light and Sound, FIND Singapore and HI Design.

Elaine has masterfully assembled a formidable team, achieving remarkable growth across the portfolio. Her leadership and strategic vision have been pivotal in driving innovation and excellence within the interiors and hospitality industries, setting new benchmarks and inspiring progress across the sectors she’s responsible for.

Jean-Philippe is the current Senior Vice President, Middle East for our Global Energy division, having transitioned from the role of Event Director for the company’s leading oil and gas event, the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). Over the last years, he has led ADIPEC through the annualisation process in 2013 and established it as one of the world’s leading oil and gas events today. As the head of the region’s Energy portfolio, Jean-Philippe oversees a number of events, including ADIPEC, The Egypt Petroleum Show (EGYPS) and the World Heavy Oil’s Congress (WHOC) in Oman along with the leading oil and gas publication Pipeline Magazine.  

His past experience includes working on large scale events such as GITEX Technology Week, World Travel Market and Arabian Travel Market. Prior to working in the exhibitions industry, he worked with Standard & Poor’s Insurance Ratings and Butterworths Legal Publishing. Jean-Philippe has a BA degree in Politics from Leicester University and a Master’s Degree in International Politics from University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.

Josine Heijmans serves as the Senior Vice President - Construction at dmg events where she spearheads a diverse portfolio of international trade events across the UAE, India and Asia.

Her portfolio includes a.o. our flagship Big 5 Global, the premier building and construction event in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia as well as LiveableCitiesX, GeoWorld and FutureFM, the pivotal gathering of the movers and shakers in urban development and global catalyst for city evolution.

With over 15 years of industry experience, Josine has a broad background in events covering various sectors including Construction, Real Estate, Travel, and Luxury Retail. Prior to her current role, she held leadership positions with Deutsche Messe in the UAE and VNU Exhibitions Asia in China. Prior to working in the exhibitions industry Josine worked as Management Consultant primarily in the Healthcare sector.

Muhammed Kazi is Senior Vice President, Construction at dmg events, with responsibility for events in Africa, Egypt & the Middle East.

Muhammed first joined dmg in 2008, working on the company’s flagship interior Design show Index and its co-located Office Exhibition.

His success with that portfolio saw Muhammed join the construction division in 2012, setting up the launch of The Big 5 India. Two years later he debuted The Big 5 Construct in Indonesia, while also re-launching the Gulf Glass event in Dubai.

In 2015 Muhammed was promoted to Event Director and took on the launch of the construction division’s first vertical brand extension event, Windows, Doors & Façade. The event went on to win the Best Trade Show Award in the Middle East for 2016.

Muhammed has garnered extensive experience working closely with JV partners, one of which has seen the successful launch of the Intersolar brand in the Middle East. Muhammed has also spearheaded high level conferences, launching the Global Solar Leaders’ summit and Future of Facades in the Middle East.

In 2018 Muhammed was appointed Portfolio Director, looking after The Big 5 in Morocco, Kenya and launching the brand in Nigeria.

Most recently Muhammed was appointed Vice President of Africa & Egypt with the mandate to develop existing events, while also scoping new acquisition and launch opportunities.

Muhammed has a BA in marketing from Westminster University and an MBA in finance and marketing from Preston University.

Nick joined dmg events in 2014 as Vice President, Energy, and subsequently appointed Senior Vice President, North America in 2022. He has extensive leadership experience in the global events sector serving industries that include manufacturing, energy, technology, construction, mining, professional sports, consumer goods and publishing.

Nick oversees P&L, operational and strategic responsibilities for dmg’s diverse and growing portfolio of B2B trade exhibitions in the Americas region, as well as developing new and exciting launches to market. Prior to joining dmg events, he has held leadership positions with SME, RX Global and dmg world media in both trade and consumer exhibitions.

Nick is a board member with the Canadian Association of Exposition Management and achieved his Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designation in 2013. He is a graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa, graduating with a BA in history.

Salman graduated from the Lebanese American University with a business studies degree. In 2006 he started working in the exhibitions industry with IFP Emirates and joined dmg events in 2008 as a Sales Manager for the region’s largest construction event The Big 5. Salman later launched and managed the first geo-adaptation of The Big 5 construction brand into Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2011.

In 2012 Salman moved to Abu Dhabi and joined the energy portfolio for dmg events as the Senior Project Manager for ADIPEC to lead the commercial team through the annualisation process and established it as one of the world’s largest energy events today. In 2015 he was promoted to Exhibition Director and launched the Egypt Petroleum Show (EGYPS) in Cairo while still overseeing a number of events, including World Heavy Oil Congress in Oman and PLASTEX in Egypt.

Salman was appointed Senior Vice President of the Middle East Energy Division to grow the existing brands and build new launch shows across other industries in the MENA region to include Egypt Mining Forum, Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, and Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition and Conference.

Thomas Löffler has over 18 years of experience in the global exhibitions industry, managing event businesses across various geographies. He started his career in 2005 with Messe Muenchen in Germany, where he successfully ran leading machinery trade fairs such as ITMA and bauma China in Munich and Shanghai. In 2010, Thomas moved to India to establish a German-US Joint Venture company, launching construction equipment exhibitions bauma and Conexpo in India. After four years of developing events in different parts of the country, he relocated to China to expand Messe Muenchen’s exhibitions business across multiple market segments.

In 2019, Thomas moved to Dubai to serve as Vice President for Dubai World Trade Centre, where he was responsible for organizing and developing a range of technology and lifestyle events. Currently, Thomas serves as Senior Vice President - Adipec at dmg events, where he is responsible for the strategic development and growth of ADIPEC, the world’s largest and most influential annual gathering of energy industry professionals.

Claire has 20+ years experience in the global oil, gas and energy events sector spanning international markets including the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Europe from P&L responsibility, market analysis and business development, conference production, event management and launch, sales, operations and logistics and marketing.

Commercially astute, but never losing sight of a passion for delivering value added content to the market and client satisfaction at every opportunity, delivered from building direct face to face relationships with Governments and key stakeholders, Ministries, Associations, NOCs, IOCs, technology and service providers alike.

David began his events career at Arena International as a Conference Producer, working across pharmaceutical, power, energy, and transportation sectors. He then joined C5 Communications, where he developed new conferences for the legal division, focusing on regulatory and compliance-driven markets.

In 2011, David joined dmg events in London, launching energy-focused events in Africa and the East Mediterranean. A year later, he relocated to Calgary to join dmg’s North American headquarters, leading content development for new projects in Mexico and Colombia, and contributing to the growth of the Canadian energy portfolio.

After a five-year hiatus, David returned to dmg events in 2021 to lead the content development and strategy for the Canadian Hydrogen Convention and Carbon Capture Canada. He also played a key role in expanding the Global Energy Show, reinforcing its position as a leading platform for energy innovation and investment.

David holds degrees from the University of Liverpool and the College of Law in London. He has worked in economic development and international trade with the City of Red Deer and Calgary Economic Development and served as a Fellow at Energy Future Labs. His expertise lies in launching events, building partnerships, and driving commercial growth across global markets. He maintains a deep interest in energy policy and the politics that shape it, viewing the energy landscape as a reflection of societal priorities, geopolitical tensions, and the evolving dialogue between progress, equity, and sustainability.

Faye Black brings over 15 years of expertise in the events industry, with extensive experience across mature and emerging markets in diverse sectors. Having spent the last 13 years in the Middle East, she joined dmg events from Informa Middle East and has been pivotal in shaping marketing strategies that align with regional dynamics and global trends. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in marketing some of the world’s largest trade shows, transitioning into leadership roles where she built and led marketing departments focused on driving sales and increasing visitor engagement.

As Vice President of Marketing at dmg events, Faye oversees digital marketing, corporate communications, and collaborates with portfolio leads to create events that meet customer needs and achieve year-on-year growth. She is passionate about leveraging integrated marketing technology to connect with customers and ensuring marketing teams are empowered to focus on delivering impactful campaigns that resonate deeply with their audiences. Faye’s commitment to team development and collaboration underpins her leadership approach, driving innovation and business success.

Islam Hafez is the Vice President of Business Operations at DMG Events KSA. With 20 years of experience in marketing solutions, media, and events, he started his career as a media consultant at Yellow Pages and later became the General Manager of Sales. Following that, he joined MEED as a Territory Sales Director, where he spent six years with the company and eventually became the Country Director for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Islam joined DMG Events in January 2018 and played a crucial role in establishing the Saudi office and expanding the business.

James is Vice-President in the Energy Portfolio of dmg events. He returned to dmg events in 2019 as Event Director on Gastech and was promoted to Vice-President in 2022 to launch India Energy Week. James previously worked for dmg events From 2012 to 2016 in the Digital Marketing Portfolio, heading up the iMedia and ad:tech brands for the UK and India.

James has 20 years of experience leading teams to deliver sector leading conferences and exhibitions, with particular experience working in fast moving, evolving markets including technology, digital, ecommerce, marketing, packaging, sustainability and energy, for organisers including UBM and Easyfairs. He has a degree in Politics from Loughborough University.

Julie Allen is the Vice President of Operations, heading up the ever growing operations department of around 30 people. She has 30 years’ experience in the Exhibition Industry, more specifically, Event Operations. Starting her career with IIR Exhibitions back in 1994, she is now responsible, with her team, for delivering over 30 shows a year across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Some of the larger scale events encompass around 90,000sqm gross with some territories being exceptionally challenging.

Marcus' two decades of experience span the energy, business operations, manufacturing, and education sectors in Australasia, ME, Europe and Africa. Previous roles have seen him develop business units for organisations such Clarion Events, IQPC Worldwide and Verventia. He has also had successful entrepreneurial ventures building his own event agency operations.

Paresh is the Vice President - Finance for Middle East, Africa, and Asia for dmg events.

After earning his Chartered Accountancy qualification with EY in London, Paresh has over 25 years of experience in a career that has taken him to senior positions at media & technology companies in London, Madrid, and Dubai. He earned a stint outside of the finance realm, managing a front-line team at a blue-chip company in Dubai.

He oversees a large finance team, encompassing shared services provided to all parts of dmg events in the Middle East region.

Experienced Vice President with excellent project management skills in all aspects from inception to completion; dedicated to continuous process improvement in the face of rapidly evolving and changing markets. Action-orientated with strong ability to communicate effectively with technology, executive, and business audiences.

In my current role I have successfully managed existing shows, launched & managed new shows, new product sectors, and new features in tough and challenging markets around the Middle East, Asia & Africa; led a team by demonstrating effective leadership skills, supported the recruitment, motivation and empowerment of a team, and developed individuals in their career.

Tanya joined dmg events in April 2020 following the acquisition of a group of events from CWC Group. She began her events career at CWC in 2007 at CWC School for Energy, where she was responsible for developing training courses around the globe. In 2011, Tanya moved over to project managing some of CWC’s most established events, including the Nigeria Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition and the World LNG & Gas Series of events. In 2015, Tanya became Managing Director – LNG & Gas at CWC, where she was responsible for growing the longstanding World LNG & Gas Series, plus overseeing the launches of new events in a range of important markets, including China, Japan, and Papua New Guinea. Tanya also launched the LNG & Gas Hub, an online platform for global LNG & gas leaders. She has considerable experience of managing key relationships across the oil and gas sector and has extensive government relations experience. Tanya is a true energy specialist and promotes the importance of oil and gas knowledge amongst her division.

Prior to working in events, Tanya headed up a translation service in Ecuador between 2003 and 2007 where her main clients were energy companies. Tanya has also lived in Togo, West Africa. She speaks French and Spanish.