Craig Newman (pictured) has been appointed chief executive officer of GL events South Africa Group. Newman outgoing UFI president, was previously CEO of Johannesburg Expo Centre, and the Rand Show.
The appointment is part of a management shake-up at GL events South Africa. Newman will have an overarching role across the Live, Venue and Events Divisions.
GL events’ board of directors said it was fully integrating the unique GL events Group business model in South Africa. Present in SA for 11 years, GL events South Africa now operates at Group level steering three divisions: Live, Venue and Events.
The Venue side includes management of the Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) alongside the Montgomery Group, which holds a 40% share in JEC.
Other senior appointments to the new group structure include: Adele Hartdegen will take on the dual role of CEO of JEC and also serve as the CEO of Dogan Events. She was previously the head of PR and marketing for GL events South Africa.
Ishmael Atanasi is appointed as the CEO of the Live Division, GL events South Africa. He was previously head of finance for GL events South Africa. Atanasi will be supported by Marc Bennett as the commercial director for the Live Division, who remains as the branch manager of GL events Cape Town, with the commercial director role added to his portfolio. Leshem Naidoo remains the branch manager in Johannesburg and Yudeshni Mahomed remains the branch manager in Durban.
Up to now GL SA has been led by Maxime Rosenwald as the managing director for Middle East and Africa. He will remain as such, overseeing the two regions respectively. Maxime has been leading the Group in South Africa for the past three years and will shortly be returning to France to take his place at the International Headquarters in Lyon.
