Olympia Events, managed by Legends and ASM Global, has announced the appointments of Thalia Day, Sustainability Lead and Carly Gibbs, Head of Guest Experience. These new senior roles will help drive the venue’s evolution as it prepares to become part of London’s newest cultural destination, opening from the second half of this year.
Olympia Events manages Olympia’s iconic exhibition, conference and event venues, a historic site that has hosted landmark events since 1886. As Olympia undergoes a transformative £1.3bn regeneration, the Olympia Events team continues to deliver world-class event experiences by strengthening expertise across the team, championing innovation, sustainability and guest excellence.
Thalia Day steps into the role of Sustainability Lead at Olympia Events, reinforcing the venue’s long-term mission to embed sustainability at the core of its event strategy and every facet of the organiser, exhibitor, and guest journey. An accomplished microplastic scientist, environmental writer, and sustainability consultant, Day brings a proven track record in plastic-pollution research and policy advocacy. Combining academic qualifications with practical experience, Day will be responsible for leading a holistic sustainability strategy that aligns with the wider redevelopment, working collaboratively with internal and external partners to implement environmental best practices, reduce waste, drive innovation and strengthen Olympia’s sustainability credentials.
“Sustainability is constantly evolving, and for us it means a journey of continuous improvement. Through it all, it's vital we're transparent on what we’re achieving and where we need to grow, with measurable and traceable data to back it up. Decarbonisation remains a core priority, especially when it comes to understanding and addressing our Scope 3 emissions, which include how visitors travel to and engage with events. That’s why it’s so valuable to be working alongside Carly, to ensure that sustainability is embedded into the front-facing experience for clients and guests, both in the lead-up to events and throughout their time onsit."
Thalia Day, Sustainability Lead, Olympia Events
Supporting Day to streamline venue efficiencies and enhance client and visitor experiences is Carly Gibbs, Olympia Events’ newly appointed Head of Guest Experience. Gibbs brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise into her new role with 19 years’ experience of event management within the private sector and charity fundraising, leading on strategy, operations, customer experience, brand management and community engagement.
Gibbs will be primarily responsible for creating, implementing and spearheading the framework for the venue’s guest experience programme and customer journey, in harmony with the wider destination. Additionally, Gibbs will play a crucial role in supporting the team as they transition into becoming part of London’s newest cultural destination, through training and collaboration, to deliver a diverse range of large-scale events in partnership with tenants and stakeholders across the estate.
Chief Executive Officer at Olympia Events, Andy O’Sullivan, said both appointments will be pivotal in Olympia’s mission to set a new standard for world-class event experiences, placing the end-user at the forefront of every decision.
“Carly brings a depth of knowledge on what it truly means to deliver exceptional, people-first experiences and will be empowering our teams and partners to raise the bar across every touchpoint. Coupled with Thalia’s expertise in sustainability, it adds real substance to our ambition to lead the industry in responsible, future-focused event delivery. Together, their appointments mark an exciting step forward as we reimagine Olympia as a destination defined by excellence, purpose, and empathy for both people and planet.”
Andy O’Sullivan, CEO, Olympia Events
Commenting on her appointment, Gibbs said:
"Guest experience is about more than just great service, it's about building a sense of community – both internally and externally – and putting people at the heart of everything we do. Joining Olympia at such a pivotal moment in its journey, especially as we approach the destination launch, presents an exciting opportunity to help shape the culture we invite everyone to be part of onsite, from organisers and contractors to visitors, staff, and the wider community.”
Carly Gibbs, Head of Guest Experience, Olympia Events
These appointments build on a series of recent senior leadership hires at Olympia, including Gareth Lloyd as Business Development Director, Adam Pollington as Sales Director – Conferences and Events, and Ray Watson as Food and Beverage Director.