Olympia Events, managed by Legends Global, has promoted Carly Gibbs to General Manager of Olympia’s new International Convention Centre (ICC), strengthening leadership ahead of the venue’s highly anticipated opening.

The appointment marks a key moment in the launch year of Olympia’s ICC, part of Olympia’s £1.3 billion transformation project and one of London’s largest and most ambitious venue redevelopments.

Gibbs brings more than 20 years of experience in event management across both private and not-for-profit sectors. Her expertise spans business strategy, venue operations, customer experience, brand development and community engagement.

Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership roles at organisations including Chiswick Park Estate Management, Mitie, Comic Relief and Cancer Research UK, building a strong track record in delivering large-scale events, operational excellence and audience-focused experiences.

Gibbs joined Olympia Events in June 2025 as Head of Customer Experience, where she was responsible for designing and implementing the venue’s guest experience framework and customer journey strategy, in harmony with the wider Olympia destination.

Having transitioned into her new role earlier this year, Gibbs will now lead the operational mobilisation, launch and customer experience strategy of London’s newest convention centre. Her leadership will be central to establishing the ICC as a market-leading venue, setting new standards for organisers, delegates and visitors alike.

Alex Lewis, COO of Olympia Events, said: “Carly’s promotion reflects both her exceptional leadership and the critical role customer experience will play in shaping Olympia’s future. Since joining Olympia Events, she has been instrumental in developing a people-first framework that will define how organisers, exhibitors and visitors experience our venues. As we continue the launch of London’s newest ICC as part of Olympia’s wider transformation, Carly’s experience and expertise make her exceptionally well placed to lead this next chapter.”

Olympia’s £1.3bn transformation represents one of the world’s most ambitious regeneration projects. Alongside the launch of the ICC, the redevelopment will introduce The Addison premium lounge, operated by Olympia Events in partnership with Legends Global, while continuing significant investment in Olympia’s iconic heritage halls.

The wider transformation will also include new hotels, restaurants, bars, offices, entertainment venues and public spaces, creating a fully integrated mixed-use destination in the heart of London.

Commenting on her promotion, Gibbs said: “This general manager role presents a rare opportunity to define the service standards and visitor experience for a completely new venue, while leading the delivery of a people-first approach. Olympia’s transformation is centred on premium experiences, and I’m excited to bring my experience managing multiple teams and overseeing diverse customer journeys to create a modern, innovative venue that redefines what a convention centre can be.”

The new ICC will deliver state-of-the-art convention and event facilities, designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s global events industry. Gibbs’ appointment will be pivotal in shaping the venue’s day-to-day operational excellence while delivering premium, seamless experiences across every customer touchpoint.

In addition to leading the ICC, Gibbs will continue to drive the evolution of Olympia Events’ wider guest experience programme, ensuring consistency across the heritage spaces, ICC and The Addison.

Olympia’s new venues and public spaces will continue to open in phases throughout 2026, following the launch of Idalia at Pillar Hall on 30 March, with the full transformation culminating in the opening of the British Airways Theatre in 2027.

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