Olympia Events, managed by Legends Global, has appointed Stuart Tomlinson as venue services director.
The appointment follows a series of senior hires as the organisation prepares for Olympia’s £1.3bn regeneration programme, including upgrades to its heritage halls and the opening of a new International Convention Centre (ICC) and The Addison premium lounge.
Tomlinson has more than 28 years of experience in the events and exhibitions sector. He joined Earls Court Exhibition Centre in 2005 as an event manager and became head of events & contracts in 2013. During this period, he managed major exhibitions and live events and contributed to the delivery of the volleyball competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
After the closure of Earls Court in 2014, he joined Olympia as deputy director of operations, where he has been involved in operational planning and redevelopment activity.
According to Olympia, in his new role, Tomlinson will oversee facilities management, security, logistics, traffic management and other venue services. He will also be involved in delivering Olympia’s sustainability strategy, known as The Grand Plan, including work towards a net zero target by 2050.
The regeneration project will include the restoration of Olympia’s historic halls and the introduction of new venues and public spaces. These include the ICC and The Addison, alongside hotels, restaurants, offices and cultural spaces.
“Having been part of Olympia since 2015, and previously at Earls Court, I’m proud to support the growth of our heritage halls and the launch of the ICC and The Addison,” said Tomlinson. “It’s a privilege to see this transformation come to life alongside our clients, and I look forward to leading our service teams as we gear towards getting these spaces fully open and operational, with a focus on venue excellence and innovation.”
Alex Lewis, chief operating officer at Olympia Events, said: “I’m delighted to announce Stuart Tomlinson’s promotion to lead our Venue Services function. His extensive experience and knowledge of the venue will be invaluable as we enter this next phase of our evolution.”
