SMG Europe has announced the appointment of Nick Waight (pictured) as managing director of Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) ahead of its move to a new purpose-built home in 2019.
The former MD of Group Convention Centres for the NEC Group will start his new role in April 2018.
As chief executive of The Convention Centre Dublin, Waight was responsible for overseeing the design, build and operation of the £185m venue. More recently, he has led the ICC team in delivering The Vox, a new £10m conference space as part of Resorts World Birmingham. Waight was made redundant by the NEC Group in a management shake up in March 2017.
John Sharkey, SMG executive vice-president of European operations, said: “SMG’s expertise in driving multi-purpose exhibition, conference and entertainment content is second to none and I’m delighted to welcome Nick to the team. Nick brings with him a wealth of skills and experience in both operational and commercial management which are the perfect fit for both the existing and new AECC.”
Nick Waight added: “I am thrilled to be joining SMG Europe at this exciting time in its development. I am very grateful to John Sharkey for giving me this opportunity and look forward to taking up the new role in April, when it will be a privilege to lead the team at the AECC both at the existing venue and transitioning into the fantastic new facility in 2019. ”
Aberdeen City Council appointed SMG Europe to manage the existing AECC earlier this year ahead of its move to a new £333m complex near Aberdeen International Airport.
The new state-of-the art venue will include a 12,500-capacity arena with a moveable stage, hospitality boxes and club lounge, 50,000sqm of flexible exhibition space, conference centre, three hotels and its own energy centre.
The new AECC is forecast to generate 600 new jobs during the construction period, contribute an additional 4.5m visitors, £113m of visitor spend and £63m net GVA to the Scottish economy by 2025 and is the key element of Aberdeen City Council’s £1bn transformational infrastructure and culture plans to grow the Granite City economy.
