RWM director quits to join rival firm

The event director for the annual RWM conference and exhibition has quit his job to join a rival business just two weeks before this years show on September 10-12 2013.

Stephen Gee, who had been working for i2i Events Group Ltd as event director for the Resource Efficiency and Waste Management Solutions (RWM) exhibition, has now started work at global events business UBM, also as an event director.

It is unclear whether Mr Gee is the only member of the RWM team to have left to join UBM.

RWM is described as Europes leading event for resource efficiency and waste management and is held at the NEC in Birmingham. The three-day event, run in partnership with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) features seminars and more than 750 exhibitors involved in the waste and recycling industry.

Until a permanent replacement for Mr Gee is found, portfolio director for environment events at i2i, Dan Thurlow, has stepped in as event director for RWM 2013.

Mr Thurlow said he was closely involved with every aspect of RWM and he was confident the upcoming event would be the best show yet.

Ecobuild

The now former RWM event director Mr Gee teams up again with his former i2i boss Alison Jackson, who joined UBM in July 2013, becoming group director of sustainability and construction.

UBM organises the annual Ecobuild exhibition, which focuses on sustainable construction and design. The next event is set to take place at the London ExCel centre in March 2014.

It is believed that the 2014 event could feature an expanded section on resource, recycling and waste management, using the experience of Mr Gee and potentially other former i2i employees in this area.

New challenge

Mr Gee had spent four years working for i2i Events before leaving on August 23. On his departure, he said: I have very much enjoyed my time working on RWM and I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for the support, guidance, friendship and encouragement you have provided me during my time at RWM.

He added that he wished everyone involved in RWM for a wonderful event this year and that he knew everyone will enjoy another successful event next month. I am very much looking forward to my new challenge and to starting a new phase of my career.

And, commenting on his first week, Mr Gee said yesterday (August 29) that he had enjoyed a great first week in a new job adding that it was all very exciting.

Interim RWM event director, Mr Thurlow, said he wished Mr Gee well, but added that team-changes are common-place in the events industry.

He said: Following four years with i2i Events Group, Steve Gee has moved to pursue a new role and we wish him well. The team at RWM, and our partners the CIWM, are looking forward to a strong event – doors open on 10th September with pre-registration figures well ahead of expectations and a content programme stronger than ever.

The event account managers have already been sharing plans for 2014 with some of our largest and most loyal supporters and the response has been unanimously positive, leading to some early confirmed bookings for next year.

RWM in partnership with the CIWM takes place at the NEC Birmingham, from 10-12 September.