Benchmark Appoints New Head Of Events
Sarah Wright, formerly Head of Retail and Corporate Events at Barclays,
has joined Benchmark Sport Holdings as the organisation’s new Head of
Events.
Wright, who will take up her position in the New Year, will oversee the running of BSH’s array of high-profile events within its two core businesses – the Sport Industry Group and Beyond Sport.
With 14 years’ experience in the events industry, culminating in a five-year stint heading up the team at Barclays, Wright’s knowledge and insight will be a key factor in the ongoing international growth of BSH’s brands and businesses.
Included within her new remit will be the inaugural Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards in South Africa, the first-ever opportunity for the rapidly evolving South African sports market to celebrate its business achievements.
The star-studded ceremony will be hosted by Emperor’s Palace in the City of Erkurhuleni on 17th February.
From there, Wright’s attention will turn to the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Sport Industry Awards in the UK, now firmly established as the industry’s flagship annual event.
Taking place at Battersea Evolution in central London on 11th May, the 2011 ceremony will see the industry once more come out in force with over 1,500 high-profile sport business executives in attendance.
Wright will also play a prominent role in the third staging of the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards, the annual event that brings together the best sport-led social innovators with influential, global leaders from across politics, government and industry to address sport’s role in driving positive social change.
Following on from highly successful gatherings in London and Chicago, the Summit will move to Cape Town in South Africa in the summer of 2011.
Commented Nick Keller, Chairman of Benchmark Sport Holdings: ‘We are delighted to have secured someone of Sarah’s experience in such a pivotal role and we look forward to the immensely positive contribution she will make in ensuring that our business continues to develop and meet the highest possible standards.’
Added Sarah Wright: ‘I am delighted to be joining such an entrepreneurial and innovative company at such an exciting time of growth – one that will allow me to draw on my corporate and agency experience to deliver exceptional events, whilst influencing positive change at the same time. It is the perfect next move for me.
