Leading associations expert Thomas Reiser has joined tourism and business events industry consulting firm GainingEdge as partner.
Reiser, who has more than 25 years' experience working within international associations, including the
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), association management companies and professional congress organisers, will step into the new role on 15 May.
GainingEdge CEO, Steen Jakobsen, said Reiser’s appointment represented a significant step in strengthening the company’s capabilities and positioning within the global association and business events sectors.
His main role will be to focus on expanding GainingEdge’s service portfolio towards
international associations, particularly in strategic meetings management and destination
and venue selection.
Jakobsen said: “[Thomas] brings an exceptional combination of strategic
vision and operational expertise. His experience in building, growing and
transforming organisations, combined with his strong global network, will
significantly enhance our ability to support clients across the association and
business events landscape.
"He will play a key role in enhancing how we support destinations and venues in
better understanding, responding to, targeting and growing their share of the
global association meetings market. This is a significant opportunity area, and
Tom’s expertise positions us strongly to capture it.”
Reiser said he was looking forward to joining the Melbourne headquartered business at a time of 'continued growth and opportunity'
"The global business events landscape continues to evolve
rapidly, and there is a strong opportunity to create more alignment between
associations and destinations to deliver greater long-term value and impact to
all stakeholders,” he said.
Reiser most recently served as executive director of the
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), where he led a
period of significant expansion, growing the organisation’s global reach,
membership, and financial performance while overseeing major international
congresses and launching impactful global initiatives. He has also held leadership roles at Smith Bucklin, MCI Group, Interel
Association Management, and several international medical societies.
Specialist consulting firm GainingEdge was launched in 2004 and has since helped destinations, convention and visitor bureaux, convention and exhibition
centres, and associations in five continents achieve strategic clarity, operational excellence,
and sustainable growth. It has a network of consultants in Melbourne, Belgrade, Copenhagen, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Miami, Paris and Vancouver.
