Business events industry consulting firm GainingEdge has announced that former Dubai trailblazer Steen Jakobsen will begin work as the company’s new CEO next month.
Jakobsen has worked in the business events
industry for 25 years, most recently as VP of Dubai Business Events where he helped transform the emirate into a leading meetings destination and oversaw the establishment of the Dubai Association Centre.
Before that he served as director of the Copenhagen Convention Bureau for 14 years
GainingEdge executive
chairman, Gary Grimmer, said that Jakobsen’s service in the role will benefit
both GainingEdge and the industry.
“We work very hard to
help our clients to be more successful, but we are also focussed on bringing a
positive contribution to the growth and advancement of the international
business events industry as a whole”, Grimmer said.
“Steen brings enormous
business and communications acumen to our company, and a strong strategic
vision in areas like destination development, sales and marketing, product
innovation and event management. He also brings clear vision, leadership
skills and broad networks that will help us to power global destination and
association communities. Steen knows how to work with both public and
private stakeholders to build the economic and societal impact of meetings and
events.”
For the past couple of
years, Jakobsen served as CFO of Tetra Pharm Technologies – a Danish
biopharmaceutical company, but said that he was excited to be joining
GainingEdge and returning to the tourism and business events arena.
“This industry has
been my professional home for many years,” Jokobsen said. ”I look forward
to applying the knowledge, strategic insights, and strong relationships I’ve
built along the way to contribute to the significant economic growth, innovation,
and global collaboration the industry is driving.
Jakobsen has made significant contributions to the global business events
community, serving on various international boards and committees. His
leadership roles include serving as Board Chair of the BestCities Global Alliance
and Vice President of the Board of the International Congress and Convention
Association (ICCA). In 2024, he was honoured with ICCA’s most prestigious
recognition for contributions to the international meetings industry, the
Moises Shuster Award.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
