PAGE STRAP PROFILE PERSONALITY
John Arvanitakis — strives to make a difference John Arvanitakis, 51, founder and director of Chat’r Xperience, is passionate about the work that he does. “I love the fact that the next day is never the same as the previous. My work allows me to explore my creativity and innovative side, which is my biggest strength.”
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espite entrepreneurs dominating the market, they encounter substantial challenges in their pursuit of growth and prosperity, extending beyond the conventional hindrance of securing financial resources.[1] Addressing Chat’r Xperience is a fully integrated experiential communications agency that focuses on the business events. Mr Arvanitakis founded Chat’r 10 years ago, and prior to that he was a partner in various other companies. During Covid-19, Mr Arvanitakis had a near-death experience, when he spent seven days in hospital on oxygen. He has also dodged cancer, twice, which has given him a new lease on life. John said he never takes anything for granted. “We need to live each day as if it is our last, as we never know when that last day will come, as Frank Sinatra’s song reminds us: “I did it my way”.” Furthermore, he said: “I do not want to leave this planet with regrets and not having lived life my way… and I made a difference to the environment.” Where do you see the business events sector in Africa at present and where do you see it heading in the future? The business events sector in Africa is a vibrant and growing one. We have not reached our potential as players in our sector. I am excited by the number of business events, exhibitions, and other events that are taking place on our continent, and many emerging worldclass venues opening up. It is an exciting time to be part of this sector, in Africa. This is good news for the continent, as it grows the economy and provides new job opportunities. Furthermore, most events are dollar-based, so the potential to generate wealth is fantastic. The event industry is one with the potential to have
a lasting and big impact on poverty reduction. Africa is also on the rise, as far as technology is concerned and I see AI and its related technology advances helping to play a huge role in organising, planning and hosting of events in the future. We are also very fortunate that Africa is vast, with many different cultures and experiences to offer delegates when attending events, enabling them to have incredible experiences and memories. What impact do business events have on the environment? Unfortunately, they do have a negative impact on the environment, with a negative carbon footprint. However, associations such as the Event Greening Forum, where I am the vice chairperson, can play a significant role in educating and encouraging the sustainable hosting of events in Africa. Where were you born and raised? Johannesburg. Where did your career begin? My career began in 1996, after I graduated from university. My first job was as a brand manager for Minolta and Samsung photographic equipment. How long have you been in the business events sector? Close on 25 years. I started out doing events and brand activations with a company that I founded together with Marius Roberts, a then-Mnet TV continuity presenter (yes, in those days they still had humans that introduced the various programmes on TV — that’s how far back we go), we were then eventually joined by Brent van Ryswyk and Damien Michael, and we grew our company Magnetic Event Management together for almost 10 years. I got itchy feet and
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was headhunted by ad agency, Ogilvy to join their Brand Activation subsidiary agency, to work together with Noeline van den Berg to build an in-house event and activations agency for the Ogilvy group and their clients. I worked there until 2013, when I started Surge Brand Studio, and later founded Chat’r Xperience, the company I now lead. What do you enjoy the most about the business events sector? The most enjoyable part of the business events sector is the fact that I get to meet loads of new people, from all walks of life, and the fact that not one day is ever the same as the previous day, I definitely could not see myself in a boring, mundane job that involved doing the same thing day in and day out, hence I did not end up pursuing the career that I studied for. Most people in the events industry do not know that I have a Bachelor of Arts in Law and International Relations from Wits University. The law definitely assists me in the business events sector. What has been the biggest change you’ve seen in this sector? The rapid adoption of virtual events, www.businesseventsafrica.com
