The Adelaide Convention Centre today named the man who will replace CEO Pieter van der Hoeven when he retires on June 30, after 20 years at the helm.
He is Alec Gilbert, currently CEO of the International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa, which has been ranked in the top ten centres in the world for the past two years.
Convention Centre chairman, Jane Jeffreys, said Mr Gilbert had been selected from a high-quality field of candidates identified in an international search.
"Alec has a wealth of experience in the convention industry, particularly in marketing convention centres on a global basis," Ms Jeffreys said. "He has excellent management credentials and brings a fresh set of skills which will be welcome as our Centre moves into its next phase of development in an increasingly competitive world market."
She applauded the achievements of Pieter van der Hoeven, who she described as "an internationally recognised as a leader in his field". "Pieter has achieved success for the Centre from its inception, steered its growth and development - including the addition of the new exhibition space - and he steps aside with it still ranked among the best in the world."
Mr Gilbert, who began his career as a town planner, has been involved with the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban - the first in South Africa - since the feasibility stages of its development. He joined as Marketing and Sales Director when it opened in 1997 and became CEO in 2001. He is currently Chairman of the Africa Chapter of the International Congress & Convention Association.
Welcoming Mr Gilbert's appointment, Tourism Minister, Jane Lomax-Smith, said: "The Adelaide Convention Centre is a key player in the tourism industry in South Australia and over the years has generated millions of dollars in economic benefit for the State."
"It has a well-deserved reputation for excellence and has become a benchmark for conference centres in Australia and elsewhere in the world. Much credit goes to Pieter van der Hoeven for his work in achieving that international recognition."
"I look forward to welcoming Alec Gilbert to South Australia to build on this tradition of success and to help us market Adelaide as an international conference destination."
ICC Durban is a member of the Global Congress Alliance, an initiative of the Adelaide Convention Centre, and Mr Gilbert has visited Adelaide a number of times in that capacity.
He plans to move here early in June for a hand-over period with Mr van der Hoeven and his wife and three children will follow at the end of the school year.
Mr van der Hoeven will remain in Adelaide, from where "as a retirement hobby" he will run an international consultancy focusing on planning, management and education in the global convention and hospitality industries.
Further information: Pieter van der Hoeven, CEO, Adelaide Convention Centre, ph: (08) 8212 4099; Jane Jeffreys, Chairman, Adelaide Convention Centre, ph: (08) 8331 8177.
