Sales Executive - Events, Conferences & Exhibitions

CIO Africa is a technology content and insights platform serving senior technology professionals across Africa. In addition to its publication and online platform, the company delivers industry conferences, summits and other high-impact events.

CIO Africa Ltd, a technology content and insights platform for senior technology professionals across Africa, is looking for a commercially driven Sales Executive. The company also organizes industry conferences, summits, and high-impact events. This role requires an individual with a strong background in selling event management, conference, exhibition, or event production services. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying prospective clients, pitching event solutions, preparing proposals, and securing new business from organizations seeking professional event management and production services. This is a business development position for someone with a deep understanding of the events industry, capable of engaging corporate decision-makers and converting opportunities into paying clients. Relevant event industry sales experience is essential.

1. Identify and secure new clients for conference, exhibition, summit, and corporate event management services.
2. Proactively engage with corporates, government institutions, NGOs, associations, and agencies to generate new business leads.
3. Pinpoint organizations planning various events like conferences, exhibitions, product launches, or corporate functions, and propose appropriate event solutions.
4. Sell comprehensive event management and production services, encompassing planning, coordination, staging, audio-visual production, lighting, livestreaming, and technical production.
5. Cultivate relationships with key decision-makers, including marketing managers, corporate communications teams, procurement officers, and senior management.
6. Schedule client meetings to understand event requirements and collaborate with internal production teams to create proposals and quotations.
7. Follow up on proposals, negotiate commercial terms, and successfully close sales deals.
8. Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective clients, tracking opportunities from initial contact to contract award.
9. Liaise with event delivery and production teams to ensure clear communication of client requirements and successful execution of agreed commitments.
10. Nurture relationships with existing clients to foster repeat business, secure referrals, and drive additional sales.
11. Achieve individual sales and revenue targets, and provide regular reports on sales activities and pipeline status.

1. A minimum of 2-3 years of relevant sales or business development experience within an event management company, conference/exhibition organizer, event production agency, or a similar events-focused business.
2. Proven track record of selling event-related services to corporate or institutional clients.
3. Demonstrated experience in new business prospecting, client meetings, proposal pitching, negotiation, and sales closure.
4. Solid understanding of the planning, costing, and delivery processes for conferences, exhibitions, summits, and corporate events.
5. Capability to identify business opportunities and effectively engage decision-makers across various organizations.
6. Excellent presentation, communication, negotiation, and client relationship management skills.
7. A results-oriented mindset and the ability to work autonomously to achieve sales targets.
8. A Diploma or Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business, Events Management, or a related field is preferred.
9. Experience in roles such as Event Sales Executive, Event Sales Manager, Business Development Executive in an event production company, Conference/Exhibition Sales Executive, Corporate Events Sales Executive, or Event Solutions/Production Sales Executive is highly valued.
10. Candidates possessing both event sales experience and practical knowledge of event delivery will have an advantage.
11. General sales experience from retail, FMCG, or unrelated sectors without specific event industry exposure will not be considered sufficient.