The appointment is part of a series of senior leadership hires at Olympia Events as the organisation prepares for the next phase of Olympia’s £1.3 billion regeneration project. This redevelopment marks a significant milestone for the iconic London venue, paving the way for a new era of exhibitions, conferences, and live events.
With the ongoing transformation, Olympia aims to expand its role as a leading destination for global trade shows, consumer exhibitions, and large-scale industry gatherings.
Davinia Bourdon Brings 17 Years of Industry Expertise
Bourdon joins Olympia Events with 17 years of experience in the events and exhibitions industry, bringing extensive expertise in sponsorship strategy, event innovation, geo-cloning, and commercial revenue growth.
Throughout her career, she has worked closely with event organisers and brands to build commercially successful event platforms. Her approach focuses on developing long-term stakeholder relationships that support sustainable growth in exhibitions and live events.
Extensive Experience with Leading Event Organisations
Before joining Olympia Events, Bourdon held key roles at several major global event organisations, including:
- Haymarket Media Group
- Clarion Events
- RX Global
- Easyfairs
In these positions, she played an important role in driving commercial growth, sponsorship development, and strategic partnerships across exhibitions, conferences, and hosted buyer events.
Role and Responsibilities at Olympia Events
In her new role as Head of Sales – Exhibitions, Bourdon will lead the development and expansion of Olympia’s exhibitions portfolio. She will work closely with organisers, brands, and partners to strengthen Olympia’s position as a premier venue for both trade and consumer exhibitions.
Her role will also involve supporting the venue’s transformation as new event spaces and facilities become operational across the Olympia estate.
Leadership Welcomes the Appointment
Adam Pollington welcomed the appointment and highlighted Bourdon’s extensive industry expertise.
He said the organisation is delighted to welcome Bourdon to the leadership team, noting that her commercial knowledge and long-standing relationships within the events industry will play a key role in strengthening Olympia’s exhibitions portfolio.
Pollington also emphasised that exhibitions remain central to Olympia’s business strategy, and Bourdon’s strategic approach will help ensure the venue continues to evolve as a world-class destination for exhibitions and live events.
A Pivotal Moment for Olympia’s Transformation
Bourdon joins Olympia Events at a crucial stage in the venue’s redevelopment. The destination is preparing to introduce a new generation of event spaces, including:
- The International Convention Centre (ICC)
- The Addison, a new multi-purpose event venue
- Enhanced heritage exhibition halls
- New cultural, hospitality, and public spaces
These developments are designed to transform Olympia into a global hub for exhibitions, conventions, entertainment, and cultural experiences.
Davinia Bourdon on Joining Olympia Events
Commenting on her appointment, Bourdon expressed enthusiasm about joining the organisation during such a significant phase of its development.
She noted that Olympia has a remarkable legacy within the global exhibitions industry and an exciting future as the new venues begin to open. Bourdon also highlighted her interest in working closely with organisers and partners to deliver innovative and commercially successful exhibitions that fully utilise Olympia’s expanded capabilities.
Phased Opening of New Olympia Venues
The new venues and public spaces at Olympia will open in phases over the coming months. The International Convention Centre is scheduled to open this spring, followed by The Addison later in the summer.
The redevelopment project will culminate with the opening of a new theatre in early 2027, completing one of the most ambitious venue regeneration projects in the UK events industry.
