Clarion Events North America has announced a leadership change that marks a new era of innovation and growth.
Liz Irving has been named President, Clarion Events North America. Irving brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in the events industry. She has been an integral part of building and leading the Clarion Events North American strategy for commercial success and supporting the global Clarion Events strategy alongside her international colleagues, making her the ideal choice to lead Clarion Events North America into the future.
Irving joined Clarion Events North America in 2015, after spending 15 years at Reed Exhibitions. During this time, she has consistently demonstrated remarkable leadership skills. She has been at the forefront of developing new revenue models including the introduction of connection-based programs and digital products and has built an exceptional team to support these initiatives. Irving has an unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding experiences for her team, exhibitors, sponsors, subscribers, and attendees alike. Her strategic vision, transformational mindset, and customer-centric approach have played an instrumental role in driving the organization’s success. Additionally, her leadership roles on event technology boards, as well as SISO showcase her focus on providing positive change for the industry through her participation and collaboration. Irving will report to Clarion CEO, Greg Topalian.
“I am honored to take on this new role as President at Clarion Events North America,” said Irving. “Our industry is constantly evolving, our customers’ expectations are evolving just as rapidly, and I am excited to lead one of the most talented teams in shaping the future of events and media, leveraging technology, data and insights, and creating connected experiences that set new standards in the industry.”
“I have complete confidence in Liz’s ability to lead Clarion Events North America into this new chapter,” said Greg Topalian, CEO Clarion Event North America. “She has been a critical partner to me in building the North American business, navigating the challenges of the past few years and delivering new revenue streams and strong financial performance. Liz has also supported Clarion in creating the unique culture within our team. Her passion, ability to learn quickly and adapt will undoubtedly elevate the organization to even greater heights, and further Clarion’s focus in the industry.”
Greg Topalian, who has been a driving force in building the North American business, will remain as CEO continuing to partner with Irving on growing Clarion’s footprint in North America and ensuring Clarion brands deliver market excellence and continues with its strong culture building focus. Topalian will continue to report to Lisa Hannant, Clarion’s Global CEO.
Lisa Hannant commented, “I am proud of the business that Greg and his team have built in North America. As we continue to invest in the US, we want to ensure that the company is well-positioned for growth, commercial outcomes and that we are recognizing the talent we have within leadership. I am excited to have the partnership of Greg and Liz to complement each other in the continued growth within the region.”
