AFRICA - Cape Town-based confex organiser Spintelligent has appointed a new event director for African Utility Week.
Russell Hughes joins the company from the London head office of Spintelligent owner Clarion Events. It is a new position for the event team, which Spintelligent says is an indication not only of the growth of the conference and exhibition but also of Spintelligent’s ambitions for the event. The 12th edition of African Utility Week took place in Johannesburg in May this year which the organiser claims broke previous event attendance records.
The event returns to Cape Town next year with targets of 220 exhibitors and more than 5,000 attendees.
Commenting on his appointment, Hughes said he is excited to lead the team on what he calls a flagship utility industry event. “The African Utility Week team pulled off an impressive event in May and thereby turned it into an internationally recognised, must-attend power and water event for all African utilities,” he said.
For 2013 the company has already confirmed the participation of power companies including Powertech, ADC Energy and Itron. The exhibition will feature an international conference programme as well as “vastly improved” exhibition opening times in order to deliver a quality service to all attendees and double the engagement time between delegates and exhibitors.
“A key development of the event is the impressive, additional investment we have made to create a more engaging exhibition floor with power features that will provide more business opportunities for our exhibitors,” said a spokesman.
Hughes has experience managing experience-based exhibitions for both consumer and business to business events.
Last year Clarion expanded its footprint in the energy and utilities market by acquiring African–focused conference and events player, EnergyNet.
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