Brian Casey will become the new president and chief executive officer for the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, effective December 1, 2013.
Casey has been the general manager of the Cleveland Convention Center, which just reopened this summer after an expansion, since 2011. He is also general manager of the Cleveland medical mart facility, now called the Global Center for Health Innovation, which is set to open to the public in February 2014. SMG has been tapped to run both facilities starting in November.
Casey’s resume includes past positions as president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority, an organization that puts on a furniture trade show; owner of Next Generation Events Group; executive vice president at SmithBucklin; and managing director of trade shows for the International Housewares Exposition.
The CEIR Search Committee and the CEIR Board unanimously selected Casey, said Greg Ortale, chairman of the board at CEIR and president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“I am very honored and excited to have been selected to lead CEIR moving forward,” said Casey. “Having been in the industry for more than 30 years, I have seen CEIR grow and become the essential source for providing thousands of professionals with the data and research that fuels our industry,” said Casey. He will succeed Doug Ducate, CEM, CMP, who has led CEIR since 1998.
“I have known Brian for many years and am very pleased with the Selection Committee’s decision,” said Ducate. “Brian has a solid background as an exhibition organizer and facility manager that will uniquely benefit CEIR,” he added. “I have the utmost confidence in Brian and his ability to continue to advance CEIR’s mission.”
