As Olympia continues to establish itself as a renowned cultural destination, the business has further strengthened its senior leadership team, welcoming several new appointments over the past six months.
These additions bring valuable expertise and position the venue to lead the industry, delivering exceptional visitor and event experiences ahead of the destination launch in late 2025.
Gareth Lloyd has joined as Business Development Director, a new role focused on driving commercial growth and identifying strategic opportunities across the business. With 26+ years of industry experience, Gareth joins following a two-year tenure as UK Sponsorship Sales Director within ASM Global’s European division where he was instrumental in delivering new commercial partnerships, securing long-term collaborations and naming rights deals for ASM Global venues across the UK.
Also joining the commercial team is Adam Pollington, who was appointed in January as Sales Director – Conferences and Events. With over 20 years of industry experience in venue sales, Adam brings a wealth of experience across venue sales, hospitality, and live entertainment, with a strong history of delivering growth and leading award-winning sales teams. Prior to Olympia, Adam served a 12-year tenure as Commercial Manager at the Tottenham Hotspur football club, where he was instrumental in cultivating profitable relationships for the club and commercialising event experiences within the stadium.
Supporting both Gareth and Adam is Andy Price, who joined as Marketing and Communications Director in November. Andy’s previous role was as Commerical Director of Ticketing & Arenas at the NEC Group, where he oversaw venue programming for both the Utilita Arena Birmingham and Resorts World Arena, Ticketing, Premium Hospitality, Merchandise and Retail. Andy’s work has already been pivotal in aligning Olympia’s marketing strategy with the destination’s long-term vision.
Leading Olympia’s elevated food and beverage strategy is Ray Watson, who came on board in December as Food & Beverage Director. Formerly Head of Catering & Event Delivery at Manchester United, Ray has a proven track record of delivering successful food and beverage offerings as well as providing inspirational leadership. Prior to that role, Ray had over 15 years of experience at Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal football clubs.