Commercial Director – Exhibitions & Events

Our client, a leading exhibitions and events organization in the Middle East, is hiring a Commercial Director to lead overall sales strategy, revenue growth, and commercial performance across a portfolio of large‑scale exhibitions and conferences. This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving revenue, managing high‑performing sales teams, and expanding the commercial footprint of flagship and new event brands, including international and technology‑focused exhibitions.

• Commercial strategy & revenue leadership: Own and drive the commercial strategy for a portfolio of exhibitions and conferences, lead revenue delivery across space sales, sponsor ships, and non‑space products, identify new commercial opportunities and innovative sales programs to maintain market leadership, oversee budgeting, forecasting, and revenue performance against targets, review contracts and provide recommendations on commercial viability.
• Sales leadership & performance management: Lead, coach, and develop multiple sales teams across different event portfolios, set targets, monitor performance, and ensure consistent delivery across all sales bands, implement best practices, sales standards, and CRM‑driven processes, actively participate in key account strategy and major client negotiations.
• Stakeholder & market expansion: Build and maintain senior relationships with exhibitors, sponsors, government bodies, and partners, support international market expansion and new show launches, represent the commercial function internally with senior leadership and cross‑functional teams.
• Cross‑functional collaboration: Work closely with Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Product teams to ensure seamless delivery, ensure exhibitions meet the highest commercial and operational standards, act as a key voice in strategic planning and portfolio growth discussions.

• 10+ years of progressive commercial leadership experience in exhibitions, events, or large‑scale B2B environments.
• Proven track record of driving revenue for complex, multi‑event portfolios.
• Strong leadership experience managing senior sales teams.
• Excellent commercial, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with technology‑focused or international exhibitions is highly preferred.
• Strong financial acumen and strategic mindset.

• Strategic, commercially minded, and data‑driven.
• Confident leading senior stakeholders and large teams.
• Comfortable operating in fast‑paced, high‑pressure environments.
• Decisive, resilient, and accountable.
• Collaborative, influential, and solutions‑oriented.

Salt is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.