Event Director - West & North Africa (Arabic Speaker)

Role Overview

Event Director - West & North Africa (Arabic Speaker) at dmg events. The role is based in the West and North Africa region, with primary responsibility for Nigeria and Egypt.

Company Overview

dmg events is an international exhibitions and publishing company that attracts more than 425,000 visitors to its global portfolio of 80 exhibitions each year. The company works to accelerate business through face-to-face events, bringing people together to network, learn, and do business. dmg events is part of the Daily Mail Group Trust (DMGT), which manages a diverse, multinational portfolio of companies with total revenues of £2bn, providing businesses and consumers with compelling information, analysis, insight, events, news, and entertainment.

Role Purpose

Lead, grow, and deliver the Construction Division's event portfolio in Nigeria and Egypt, driving long-term commercial growth, market leadership, and industry impact. Hold full P&L accountability for allocated events and direct their successful development, positioning, sales performance, marketing, content, stakeholder engagement, and operational delivery. Act as the strategic leader for both markets, ensuring alignment across Sales, Marketing, Operations, Content, and Finance while adapting event brands, value propositions, and growth strategies to local market requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Event Strategy and Leadership

• Lead overall event strategy, ensuring long-term growth, relevance, and competitive positioning using data, market insights, and commercial understanding.
• Develop annually a three-year plan for each event and market outlook aligned with event delivery playbook guidelines.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment across Sales, Marketing, PR, Content, and Operations, maintaining focus on commercial, audience, and delivery priorities.
• Set and lead events meetings to ensure cross-functional alignment.
• Drive sustainable event growth, audience impact, and commercial performance.
• Manage organizational complexity and competing priorities confidently.

P&L Management

• Own full financial performance, including local and international revenue delivery, cost control, and profitability.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting of event KPIs and forecasts.
• Liaise with finance for financial reporting requirements.
• Set, adhere to, manage, and deliver the event P&L.
• Monitor ongoing performance against budget through monthly review of revenue and costs using the budget tracker.
• Establish monthly forecasting process to determine likely show result in budget tracker.
• Achieve revenue and contribution budget and forecast.
• Ensure billing and collection is conducted in accordance with contract.
• Ensure debtors are collected in accordance with contract and in full prior to the show.

Commercial Leadership

• Lead sales and sponsorship performance across Nigeria and Egypt.
• Work closely with local and international sales teams, partners, and agents to achieve revenue targets.
• Execute the agreed sales and sponsorship strategy for the event.
• Participate in meetings with key customers.
• Monitor sales performance and ensure up-to-date reporting in Salesforce.
• Deliver agreed revenue targets by value and volume.

Stakeholder and Partner Management

• Build and manage strategic relationships with governments, associations, local partners, and key industry players, ensuring positioning and commercial outcomes for the events in respective markets.
• Establish advisory boards and maintain strong market visibility.

Brand Management and Market Adaptation

• Ensure the event brand is aligned with wider portfolio strategy and effectively adapted to each market, including positioning, messaging, features, and value proposition aligned to local industry needs.
• Oversee development of locally relevant marketing campaigns, content programmes, and show features to maximize audience engagement and commercial success.
• Drive audience growth, exhibitor retention, and event positioning as the leading platform in each market.

Marketing

• Oversee development of the marketing strategy and marketing objectives for the event.
• Work with Senior Marketing Manager to increase visitor numbers and quality and improve the overall look and feel of the event.
• Ensure the event website is always up-to-date and aligned with overall brand standards.
• Oversee database development in conjunction with database department.

Business Development

• Identify and develop new event profiles, launches, or vertical extensions within portfolio markets based on market gaps and demand.

Operational Delivery

• Oversee operational preparations for the event and ensure these are delivered at a high standard with focus on customer satisfaction.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Events, or related field.
• Strong understanding of B2B exhibitions, with construction and infrastructure experience preferred.
• 7 or more years in exhibitions and events with portfolio leadership responsibility.
• Proven experience managing full P&L and multi-channel sales (direct, agent, partner).
• Experience in multi-market environments, with Africa and Middle East preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial and strategic acumen.
• Expertise in market-driven brand positioning and event development.
• Ability to manage local partners, agents, and stakeholder ecosystems.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams through alignment and influence.
• Strategic leadership and long-term thinking.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Leadership maturity and ability to operate in complexity.
• High resilience and sound judgement under pressure.
• Strong ownership mindset and accountability.
• Ability to build collaboration, consistency, and performance across teams.
• Native Arabic speaker with excellent communication skills in Arabic and English.