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ILEA COLUMN
ILEA MIDDLE EAST PRESIDENT ELECT, PAUL BERGER, SETS OUT HIS OBJECTIVES FOR 2019...
As a founding member of ILEA, I have really enjoyed working this year as the chapter’s president elect, supporting our current president, Dan Bolton, and his board. This year has seen the chapter grow in both size and stature with many new members coming on board. It has been extremely motivating to see the inroads that the chapter has been making with the likes of the DED and DTCM, and the alliances we have formed with other industry associations. Before I take up my presidency next year, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you a little about who I am and where I see the chapter in 2020. I have been working in the Middle East and Asia since 1993, starting my career in Dubai with the OMNICOM Group as a lead Account Director on Emirates Airline, Pepsi Cola and General Motors. In 1997, I moved into the sports event management and sports marketing sector by launching the first leisure motor sport tracks in the region; Indoor Karting, Outdoor Karting, and the Dubai Autodrome circuit. In 2006, I began a close relationship with Formula 1, working closely
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with McLaren and Ferrari on their Middle East partnerships and being involved in the launch of the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix. After 12 years in the motor sports industry, I acquired a shareholding in one of the Middle East’s leading event industry suppliers, Harlequin Marquees & Event Services. In 2009, I became CEO of Harlequin and subsequently sold the company to the Arena Group. In 2010, I was appointed CEO of the Middle East and Asia Division of the Group, launching the company in Singapore and Malaysia. I have subsequently expanded the division to Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Korea and now Japan. The division has grown from an AED 20m business in 2009 to over AED 100m by the end of 2018, with over 180 employees. I have been involved with ILEA (then ISES!) since its inception in the Middle East in 2010, when Harlequin officially backed their initial request to the Dubai Chamber for permission to form. Subsequently in 2012 when the Dubai Chamber application approval had been received, and the business group had been incorporated, the founding president, Adrian Bell asked me to join his board and, gladly accepting, I have been an active participant ever since. During my time as a board member I took responsibility for Events and Sponsorship, with a focus on sourcing new venues for our events. Highlights for me included securing venue partnerships from the Waldorf Astoria, the Ritz Carlton, the Address Hotel, the JA Ocean View and the St Regis, as well as significant sponsorship deals with organizations such as Fly Dubai. I am also proud to have been part of growing the membership base from the initial 30 to the 400 that it is today. In mid-2017, I decided that it was time for me to ‘give something back’ to the local events industry and put myself forward for the role of Dan’s President Elect. I will officially take over the reins from Dan in January 2019 and hope to continue the fantastic work that he has started. With a strong board of seasoned industry professionals behind me, together with the support of our members and the wider industry, I look forward to the great honour and responsibility of leading the association into Expo 2020 and beyond. During my presidency, I will be focusing on going back to basics, ensuring that we reinforce the foundations of our organisation for the future. In addition to continuing to grow
