Re-Advertisement - Sales Executive - Events, Conferences Exhibitions

About the Role

• CIO Africa Ltd is seeking an experienced, commercially driven Sales Executive with a background in selling event management, conference, exhibition or event production services.
• CIO Africa is a technology content and insights platform serving senior technology professionals across Africa. In addition to its publication and online platform, the company delivers industry conferences, summits and other high-impact events.
• The successful candidate must have experience identifying prospective clients, pitching event solutions, preparing proposals and winning business from organisations looking for professional event management and production services.
• This is a business development role for someone who understands the events industry, can engage corporate decision-makers and has a proven ability to convert opportunities into paying clients. General sales experience without relevant event industry exposure will not be sufficient.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and secure new clients requiring conference, exhibition, summit and corporate event management services.
• Proactively approach corporates, government institutions, NGOs, associations, agencies and other organisations to generate new business.
• Identify organisations planning conferences, exhibitions, product launches, corporate functions and industry events and pitch suitable event solutions.
• Sell event management and production services, including event planning, coordination, staging, audio-visual production, lighting, livestreaming and technical production.
• Develop relationships with decision-makers, including marketing managers, corporate communications teams, procurement officers, event organisers and senior management.
• Arrange client meetings, understand event requirements and work with internal production teams to develop proposals and quotations.
• Follow up on proposals, negotiate commercial terms and close sales.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of prospective clients and track opportunities through to contract award.
• Work with the event delivery and production teams to ensure client requirements are clearly communicated and agreed commitments can be delivered.
• Maintain relationships with existing clients to generate repeat business, referrals and additional sales.
• Meet agreed individual sales and revenue targets and submit regular sales activity and pipeline reports.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 2–3 years of relevant experience in sales or business development within an event management company, conference or exhibition organiser, event production agency or a closely related events business.
• Demonstrable experience selling event-related services to corporate or institutional clients.
• Experience prospecting for new business, meeting clients, pitching proposals, negotiating and closing sales.
• Good understanding of how conferences, exhibitions, summits and corporate events are planned, costed and delivered.
• Ability to identify business opportunities and engage decision-makers across different organisations.
• Strong presentation, communication, negotiation and client relationship management skills.
• A results-oriented approach and the ability to work independently towards sales targets.
• A Diploma or Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business, Events Management or a related field is an advantage.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have worked as:

• Event Sales Executive or Event Sales Manager.
• Business Development Executive in an event management or production company.
• Conference or Exhibition Sales Executive.
• Corporate Events Sales Executive.
• Event Solutions or Event Production Sales Executive.
• Candidates with experience in both selling event services and understanding the practical delivery of conferences, exhibitions or corporate events will have an advantage.
• General retail sales, FMCG sales or unrelated sales experience without relevant event industry experience will not meet the primary requirement.