ExCeL London has announced the appointments of Diana Frederiksen (pictured right), Declan Cassidy (pictured left) and Kornelia Kaczynska (middle) to its conference and events team in response to what it says is growing client demand.
Bringing more than 35 years’ MICE industry experience between them, Frederiksen joins the venue as head of business development, whilst Cassidy becomes head of sales development and Kaczynska as account executive. The three will also focus on the venue’s forthcoming 25,000sqm expansion opening later this year.
Beginning her career at Stockholmsmässan Congress & Exhibition Centre, Frederiksen has also worked for leading brands such as the Hilton London Metropole – the largest outside the US – where she also headed up the hotel’s ESG committee. A founding member of ICCA’s Future Leaders Council, she will focus on longer-lead, large-scale, city-wide conferences and events.
Meanwhile, Cassidy has worked for brands including the PPHE Hotel Group, the Strand Palace Hotel and the Kia Oval, as well as heading up the sales team at etc.venues for almost 15 years. His role will see him focus on reviewing ExCeL’s commercial offering across its key convention spaces, developing inclusive packages for the state-of-the-art meeting hub CentrEd, and the new Maritime Suite.
Kaczynska, who has several years’ experience gained at etc.venues and Park Lane’s London Hilton Hotel, will provide wider support for the C&E team, in particular across inbound enquiries.
James Rees, ExCeL’s executive director and president of JMIC, added: “2024 is undoubtedly a milestone year for ExCeL, with more than £300m being invested in our venue, infrastructure and, subsequently, London’s event industry. This is due to increasing demand from event organisers across the UK, Europe, and North America, so much so that 65% of 2025 space in our new expansion has already been booked.”
Rees added: “We’re also investing in our people, so we’re delighted to be welcoming Diana, Declan and Kornelia who will further strengthen our existing team, helping to provide the very best experience to our clients.”
Hosting around 400 events a year and welcoming four million visitors – one million of those from overseas – ExCeL experienced its busiest ever year in 2023 with that trend already continuing into 2024.
Key upcoming events include the European Society of Cardiology 30 August-2 September, Elevate24 11-12 September, PCR London Valves 24-26 November, Hyrox London 29 November – 1 December, plus a variety of major corporate events.
