Cotton deep in talks about new position

22 July 2008

Excel London managing director of conferences and events, Vanessa Cotton, is stepping down after fours years to take on a new challenge.

Excel London managing director of conferences and events, Vanessa Cotton, is stepping down after fours years to take on a new challenge.

At the time of Event going to press, we understand that she was in the final stages of negotiations for another senior role within the industry.

In her time at the Docklands exhibition venue, Cotton has increased the number of events to such an extent that they now account for around 30% of its total revenue.

She said: "I was part of a small team of directors tasked with building the company's equity value. Its value when I joined - net of debt - was around £30m, and in May this year the company was sold to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company for six times this amount."