Key Responsibilities
1. Overall Business Management
- Independently oversee day-to-day operations across publications, digital platforms, events and related business verticals.
- Translate strategic priorities into measurable business plans and execution timelines.
- Establish organisational processes, reporting structures, standard operating procedures and accountability systems.
- Ensure effective coordination among sales, editorial, digital, creative, events and administration teams.
- Resolve routine operational issues independently and elevate only significant strategic or financial matters.
- Monitor execution against business priorities and ensure timely completion of critical assignments.
2. Revenue Generation & Commercial Growth
- Take ownership of revenue performance across advertising, sponsorships, events, partnerships and other commercial initiatives.
- Lead business development, client acquisition, renewals, account management and sales performance.
- Develop annual and quarterly revenue plans and monitor achievement against targets.
- Strengthen commercial relationships with key industry stakeholders.
- Identify new revenue opportunities and commercially viable business extensions.
- Ensure disciplined proposal follow-ups, invoicing coordination and timely collections.
- Build a structured sales pipeline, track conversion rates and improve the overall sales cycle.
- Develop pricing strategies, commercial proposals, partnership models and revenue packages.
- Ensure the effective utilisation and monetisation of the organisation's media platforms, industry network and event properties.
3. Events & Flagship Properties
- Oversee the commercial and operational execution of flagship initiatives, including Exhibition Excellence Awards & Summit (EEA) and Association Leadership Awards & Summit (ALAS).
- Manage project timelines, sponsorship deliverables, vendor coordination, budgets and operational teams.
- Ensure that events are delivered professionally, on schedule and within approved financial parameters.
- Coordinate with venue partners, agencies, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and industry stakeholders.
- Track sponsorship sales, partner commitments, deliverables, event expenses and post-event commercial closures.
- Develop standard operating procedures for recurring events and business initiatives.
- Establish post-event review mechanisms to assess profitability, stakeholder satisfaction and future business opportunities.
- Identify opportunities to scale existing event properties and develop new commercially sustainable industry platforms.
4. Financial & Operational Accountability
- Own operating budgets, revenue forecasts, expense controls and profitability targets.
- Monitor business-unit performance, receivables, operational efficiency and financial commitments.
- Work with the accounts function to maintain transparent financial reporting.
- Recommend measures to improve profitability, cash flow and recurring revenue.
- Operate within defined spending and commercial approval limits established by the Founder.
- Review monthly revenue, expenditure, outstanding payments and business performance against approved budgets.
- Ensure timely follow-ups on client payments, sponsorship dues and other receivables.
- Assess the commercial viability of new initiatives before committing organisational resources.
- Maintain appropriate controls over vendor payments, purchase approvals and operational expenses.
5. Human Resources & Team Leadership
- Lead departmental managers and operational teams across the organisation.
- Define responsibilities, performance targets and reporting mechanisms.
- Conduct structured performance reviews and improve productivity.
- Recommend recruitment, restructuring, training and performance improvements.
- Develop capable second-line leadership and reduce organisational dependence on any single individual.
- Ensure that every department has clearly defined deliverables, measurable KPIs and accountability for results.
- Identify skill gaps and implement appropriate training and development initiatives.
- Address performance issues, interdepartmental conflicts and execution bottlenecks in a timely manner.
- Build a professional, performance-oriented culture that encourages ownership, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Ensure effective onboarding, workforce planning and utilisation of available human resources.
6. Media, Publications & Digital Business
- Oversee the commercial and operational performance of Exhibition Showcase Magazine, Travel + MICE Showcase and associated digital platforms.
- Ensure effective coordination between editorial planning, advertising sales, content production, design, digital publishing and distribution.
- Develop revenue opportunities across print advertising, digital advertising, sponsored content, newsletters, video, podcasts and other media products.
- Monitor publication schedules, advertising commitments, content delivery timelines and client requirements.
- Strengthen audience engagement, brand positioning and industry visibility across relevant platforms.
- Identify opportunities for integrated media packages combining print, digital, social media, video and event participation.
- Ensure commercial commitments are aligned with editorial standards and the organisation's brand credibility.
- Develop strategies to increase client retention, repeat business and long-term commercial partnerships.
7. Business Development & Industry Relationships
- Build and maintain relationships with exhibition organisers, industry associations, corporate brands, event agencies, venues, government bodies and other relevant stakeholders.
- Represent the organisation in business meetings, industry forums, networking engagements and commercial negotiations.
- Develop strategic partnerships that contribute to revenue growth, brand visibility and business expansion.
- Identify new sectors, customer segments and geographic markets for business development.
- Strengthen existing client relationships through structured account management and regular engagement.
- Negotiate commercial agreements within the authority delegated by the Founder.
- Ensure timely communication, professional relationship management and fulfilment of client commitments.
8. Systems, Processes & Performance Monitoring
- Establish a structured management system for tracking business activities, departmental deliverables and commercial performance.
- Implement regular reporting formats, review meetings, performance dashboards and escalation mechanisms.
- Ensure that all critical projects have defined owners, deadlines, budgets and measurable outcomes.
- Standardise recurring workflows across sales, publications, digital operations, events and administration.
- Introduce appropriate technology and automation to improve efficiency, reduce manual follow-ups and strengthen reporting.
- Maintain centralised visibility of sales pipelines, client databases, project status, outstanding receivables and upcoming commitments.
- Identify operational bottlenecks and implement corrective measures.
- Ensure that business knowledge, processes and client information are documented rather than dependent on individual employees.
9. Strategic Planning & Business Expansion
- Work with the Founder & Group Editor to translate the organisation's long-term vision into actionable business plans.
- Evaluate new business opportunities, products, services and event properties.
- Prepare business cases, revenue projections, resource requirements and profitability assessments for proposed initiatives.
- Monitor industry developments and identify opportunities in exhibitions, MICE, media, publishing and association-led platforms.
- Recommend strategies for revenue diversification, market expansion and improved operational efficiency.
- Review the performance of existing business verticals and recommend expansion, restructuring or discontinuation where commercially justified.
- Support the development of sustainable business models that balance growth, profitability and organisational capacity.
10. Governance, Reporting & Founder Coordination
- Serve as the primary operational point of accountability for the organisation's day-to-day business.
- Provide the Founder & Group Editor with structured updates on revenue, profitability, business risks, team performance and critical projects.
- Prepare monthly management reports covering financial performance, sales pipeline, collections, project progress and operational issues.
- Ensure adherence to approved budgets, commercial policies, internal procedures and applicable statutory requirements.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding financial information, commercial negotiations, client relationships and organisational strategy.
- Escalate significant financial exposure, legal risks, reputational concerns and strategic decisions beyond delegated authority.
- Present clear recommendations and proposed solutions rather than merely reporting problems.
- Ensure continuity of operations through effective delegation, documented processes and contingency planning.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance will be assessed against mutually agreed business objectives, approved budgets and measurable operational outcomes.
- Revenue Growth: Achievement of quarterly and annual revenue targets across media, events, sponsorships and partnerships.
- Profitability: Improvement in business-unit margins, cost efficiency and overall operating performance.
- Sales Performance: New client acquisition, conversion rates, repeat business and sponsorship closure.
- Collections: Timely recovery of receivables and reduction in overdue payments.
- Event Performance: Delivery against approved timelines, budgets, sponsorship commitments and commercial objectives.
- Operational Efficiency: Timely completion of deliverables, fewer execution bottlenecks and effective coordination between departments.
- Team Productivity: Achievement of departmental targets, employee accountability and development of second-line leadership.
- Process Development: Implementation and consistent use of reporting systems, SOPs and performance dashboards.
- Client Retention: Strengthening of existing relationships and growth in repeat commercial engagements.
- Founder Independence: Demonstrable improvement in the organisation's ability to function effectively without routine founder intervention.
Preferred candidate profile
- Graduate or postgraduate qualification in Business Administration, Management, Marketing, Media Management or a related discipline.
- Approximately 815 years of relevant professional experience, with substantial experience in business management, commercial operations, revenue generation or leadership roles.
- Prior experience in media, publishing, B2B sales, exhibitions, events, advertising, sponsorships or related industries will be preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in managing teams, achieving revenue targets, controlling costs and improving business performance.
- Strong understanding of sales pipelines, commercial negotiations, budgeting, profitability, receivables and business reporting.
- Experience in managing multiple business verticals, projects and stakeholder relationships simultaneously.
- Proven ability to build processes, establish accountability and manage operations with minimal supervision.
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, analytical and decision-making skills.
- Proficiency in spreadsheets, CRM systems, reporting dashboards and business productivity tools.
- A practical, solution-oriented mindset with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands‑on execution.