Chris Skeith OBE

Chris is the Chief Executive Officer of the AEO (Association of Event Organisers), the leading association for organisers of events in the UK and internationally.

Chris started his career in media auditing at the Audit Bureau of Circulations, where he later led on the development of their auditing products for the event sector.

In 2006 Chris moved to the Events Industry Alliance (EIA), overseeing the merger of AEC & BECA to form ESSA (Event Supplier & Services Association) and the launch of the highly successful ‘Use an ESSA Member’ campaign. In 2010, he also became Director of ESSA’s sister association, AEV (Association of Event Venues), driving venue engagement through numerous special interest groups before moving on to AEO in 2014. He continues to be a Director of EIA, which represents the sector to government and regulators.

Chris holds a number of voluntary positions, and is Chair of the Ministerial appointed DCMS Events Industry Board which is part of the Tourism Industry Council, and is a member of the BEIS Professional Business Services Committee. He is Chair of UKEVENTS (formerly the Business Visits & Events’ Partnership), a partnership of all leading associations in the UK event industry, and is an UFI Board Member and chair of their associations committee.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021, he was awarded an OBE for services to the Events Industry.