David brings to Congrex a depth of experience with his extensive entrepreneurial and successful business leadership background. He also is an experienced Chair and non-executive Director of a number of organisations and has been Director of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Special Business Advisor to the City of Liverpool and Director of several tourism and culture-related institutions in Liverpool. He has served as chairman of Visit Liverpool, board member of Tate and board member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
Referring to his appointment, David commented “I am proud to have been chosen as the CEO of this great dynamic company. With business tourism and cities close to my heart I feel Congrex have a special role to play in the development of a maturing international industry and is a terrific business with quality people on-board. Taking over this position from Layth, who has achieved so much development with the company over the last 5 years, is an honour. I am really looking forward to the challenge, maintaining the momentum and building further on the company’s success. By developing the brand further we will keep on expanding the company.”
The Board of Directors of Congrex Holding BV represented by the Chairman Ms Diana Feo de Tamayo and the Director Mr Donald M Hellstedt expressed their satisfaction that Mr Wade-Smith has accepted to serve as Chief Executive Officer at a time when Congrex is experiencing a dynamic and expansive development period. “We are really happy that David will take on this role, and I am confident that the qualities of David, being such a ‘people person’, will truly benefit Congrex.” added Ms Diana Feo de Tamayo, Chairman of Congrex Holding BV.
David will take up his position with Congrex effective 1st June 2011, and will continue the work begun by his predecessor, Dr. Layth Bunni. They will work closely together during the upcoming transitional period in order to ensure a smooth process of all business operations. Layth will continue to provide Congrex with his support as a Non-Executive Director of Congrex Holding BV. He will be moving on to take a leadership position in an international development company to be announced in the near future.
“Layth has served Congrex exceedingly well over the past years and we were able to establish a unique relationship with him during his tenure. Some of his lasting contributions to Congrex including the application of the Group-wide integrated management systems and the tripling of the size of the company have been invaluable. We are delighted that he has agreed to stay on as a Non-Executive Director in Congrex Holding BV. We thank Layth and wish him well in his new and exciting role” concluded Ms Diana Feo de Tamayo, Chairman of Congrex Holding BV.
