Olympia Events has announced the appointment of Carlo Zoccali as its new Event Operations Director, bringing more than two decades of leadership experience across the events, exhibitions, conferences, venues, and sports industries. His appointment comes at a pivotal time as Olympia continues its major transformation into one of London’s leading destinations for business events, entertainment, hospitality, and live experiences.
Carlo Zoccali Brings Over 20 Years of Industry Experience
Zoccali joins Olympia Events with an extensive background in venue operations, commercial strategy, customer experience, and event delivery. Throughout his career, he has held senior commercial and operational leadership positions at several well-known organisations, including Fully Charged Show, Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, and Arsenal Football Club.
Having worked from both the venue operator and event organiser perspectives, Zoccali brings valuable insight into the challenges and expectations of delivering successful exhibitions, conferences, and large-scale live events.
Appointment Comes During Olympia’s Landmark Transformation
Zoccali’s arrival coincides with one of the most significant periods in Olympia’s 140-year history.
The venue has recently unveiled several major additions as part of its extensive redevelopment, including the opening of British Airways ARC, a new 3,800-capacity live music venue, alongside a collection of exclusive restaurants and bars operated by Incipio. The newly opened Hyatt Regency London Olympia, which welcomed its first guests on 6 July, further strengthens the destination’s appeal for business travellers and event attendees.
These developments position Olympia as a comprehensive destination combining exhibitions, conferences, hospitality, entertainment, and premium visitor experiences.
Leading Operations Across Olympia’s Expanding Event Spaces
As Event Operations Director, Zoccali will oversee the transformation of Olympia Events’ operational teams to support world-class event delivery across the venue’s expanding portfolio.
His responsibilities will include operations across:
- Olympia’s historic exhibition halls
- The new International Convention Centre (ICC)
- The premium Addison Lounge
His leadership will focus on ensuring seamless event operations while enhancing both organiser support and visitor experiences across the entire destination.
Focus on Collaboration and Customer Experience
One of Zoccali’s key priorities will be strengthening collaboration between Olympia Events and exhibition organisers.
Drawing on his experience from both sides of the industry, he believes successful partnerships are built on clear communication, operational flexibility, proactive support, and a shared understanding of client objectives.
Over the next 12 months, he plans to work closely with organisers to better understand their event goals while identifying opportunities to improve visitor engagement, increase dwell time, and maximise the advantages offered by Olympia’s expanded destination.
Olympia Events Highlights Strategic Leadership Appointment
Commenting on the appointment, Alex Lewis, Chief Operating Officer at Olympia Events, described the move as an important milestone in the organisation’s ongoing evolution.
He noted that Olympia’s continued focus is on delivering exceptional operational experiences across its heritage spaces, new International Convention Centre, and premium hospitality areas while creating stronger connections across the wider destination.
Lewis also highlighted that Zoccali’s broad experience provides a deep understanding of organiser requirements, making him well-positioned to strengthen long-term partnerships and support the commercial success of client events.
Carlo Zoccali Looks Ahead to Olympia’s Future
Speaking about his new role, Zoccali said Olympia is entering one of the most exciting chapters in its long history.
He emphasised that while the venue’s physical transformation has created an impressive destination, the real opportunity lies in enhancing how organisers and visitors experience it. Having worked with both venues and organisers throughout his career, he believes successful events depend on understanding each client’s definition of success and building strong operational partnerships to achieve those objectives.
He added that his goal is to develop an operations team that is proactive, collaborative, and responsive, ensuring organisers view Olympia not only as a venue but as a trusted partner that actively contributes to the growth and success of their events.
Strengthening Olympia’s Position as a Premier Event Destination
The appointment of Carlo Zoccali forms part of a wider series of senior leadership appointments at Olympia Events as the organisation continues to establish itself as one of London’s premier destinations for exhibitions, conferences, entertainment, hospitality, and business events.
With significant investment in new venues, hospitality offerings, and operational excellence, Olympia is positioning itself to deliver enhanced experiences for organisers, exhibitors, delegates, and visitors while supporting the continued growth of the UK’s events industry.
