Commercial Sales Director - Exhibitions and Sponsorhips

We Are Aspire; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment firm is seeking an experienced Commercial Sales Director to lead the strategy for a flagship Pan-African defence and security exhibition. Key responsibilities include driving sales, managing relationships with stakeholders, and mentoring a sales team. The ideal candidate has extensive B2B sales experience and a strong network within the defence industry. Competitive salary of £80,000 plus commission and international travel opportunities are offered.

Benefits

Commission

International travel opportunities

Excellent benefits

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of B2B sales experience in international exhibitions.
• Proven track record of exceeding commercial targets.
• Strong network in the global defence/security industry.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a sales strategy to achieve revenue targets.
• Drive exhibitor and sponsorship acquisition.
• Manage relationships with defence contractors and government officials.

Skills

B2B sales experience

Strong communication skills

Commercial leadership

Negotiation skills

Relationship management

Education

Degree educated

Job description

Commercial Sales Director - Exhibitions and Sponsorhips

Commercial Sales Event Director – Flagship International Exhibition
London 80,000 + Commission + Excellent Benefits

I am recruiting on behalf of my client for an and experienced Sales Director to lead the commercial strategy for a flagship Pan–African defence and security exhibition and conference.

This high–profile role is responsible for driving exhibitor and sponsorship sales, building strategic partnerships, and ensuring revenue growth across African and international markets. The successful candidate will play a critical role in delivering a world–class event that attracts government, military and industry stakeholders from across the globe.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy to achieve revenue targets

Drive exhibitor and sponsorship acquisition across defence, aerospace, security, and related sectors

Build and manage strong relationships with defence contractors, government officials, international delegations, and trade associations

Lead and mentor a small but high–performing sales team, monitoring performance and KPIs

Collaborate with marketing, content, and operations teams to ensure consistent messaging and delivery

Oversee international agents and country pavilions to maximise participation

Monitor global defence market trends, identifying new opportunities for growth

About You

7–10+ years of B2B sales experience, ideally within large–scale international exhibitions (experience in defence, aerospace or security strongly preferred)

Proven track record of exceeding commercial targets and growing revenues

Strong network within the African and global defence/security industries (experience with events such as IDEX, AAD, DSEI is an advantage)

Degree educated with excellent commercial and strategic leadership skills

Confident communicator and negotiator with senior–level stakeholders

Experience managing and motivating sales teams

Comfortable working across diverse geographies and cultures

Willingness to travel extensively across Africa and internationally

Package

80,000 base salary + commission

International travel opportunities

This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially astute sales leader who thrives on building global partnerships and delivering growth on a high–profile international stage.

We Are Aspire Ltd are a Disability Confident Commited employer

We Are Aspire Ltd are a Disability Confident Commited employer