Shaun Hinds, CEO of Manchester Central, has been named the Top 50 City Region Leader for Greater Manchester.
The Northern Leadership Awards, hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com, celebrates role models within organisations who also raise the bar for their competitors. The winners must show qualities of extraordinary leadership and the positive impact this has.
Hinds (pictured middle) has been awarded due to his commitment to the Greater Manchester business community and the impact the venue has had in boosting the recovery of the region.
He has been CEO of Manchester Central since 2017, and has had a 25-year career in travel, hospitality, property and business. Hinds received the award at a ceremony held in Leeds on 25 May.
Commitment and impact
Manchester Central attracts over half a million visitors to the city each year, bringing approximately £150m into the regional economy in an average year.
Hinds has ensured the venue sits at the centre of the local business community, and has implemented a raft of measures to enhance experiences for clients and visitors to the venue.
This has included the introduction of new virtual and hybrid products and the development of the Conference Quarter campus with the addition of a distillery, restaurant, bar and theatre – run by both Spirit of Manchester Distillery and 53Two – to the Manchester Central estate.
Leaning on his external roles as vice-chair of the Association of Event Venues (AEV) and board member of the Events Industry Alliance (EIA), Hinds is also an advocate for the wider events industry and the part it plays in the national economy.
Commenting on the award, Hinds said: “I was both surprised and humbled to receive this award. It’s definitely recognition of the work that’s put in daily by the whole team at Manchester Central, who do all they can to support the success of our venue and the Greater Manchester region.
“I feel privileged to be part of the business community across Greater Manchester and North. The wealth of knowledge, talent and support from leaders across a myriad of sectors mean that we can all work together to collectively build a stronger Northern economy. It’s fantastic to proudly represent the events industry as part of this, exemplifying the significance of our sector and the value we create for our regional economies right across the UK.”
