Phil Mead To Head NEC Arenas

Phil Mead is leaving the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre (SECC) to become director designate of Birmingham’s NEC Arenas.

He’ll take up the new post in January and will replace Linda Bull as managing director in June.

Bull, who’s been at NEC for 20 years and is a leading light in the U.K. arenas’ association (board member) and the European Arenas association (executive director), is taking early retirement in the summer.

Newly appointed NEC Group chief exec Paul Thandi said Mead is the perfect choice to continue the exemplary work that Bull’s done during her two decades with the venues.

In a little more than a year, Mead is also due to step up to take over from Nottingham Arena‘s Geoff Huckstep as chairman of the U.K.’s National Arenas Association.

Apart from the SECC, Mead’s previous positions include operations director at Cardiff International Arena and general manager at Greater Manchester Exhibition and Event Centre (G-Mex).

— John Gammon