International event services group, Staging Connections Group Limited (STG), has announced the appointment of Brian Shepherd to the newly created position of President - Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), based in the UK.

In a career spanning more than 20 years, Mr Shepherd brings an accumulated wealth of knowledge through the management of strategic global event and communication agencies in the UK and the USA.

Mr Shepherd has previously worked with Imagination, Caribiner, Mice Group plc and WPP.

The appointment of Mr Shepherd will enable STG to have a focused and highly visible presence in the UK and Europe, as well as provide a link to the company’s existing operations in the UAE. 

A high level presence in the UK provides a solid platform for future growth in the EMEA region, and expands STG’s global footprint from its existing presence in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, South-East Asia, China and the UAE event, exhibitions and entertainment markets.

STG Chief Executive Officer, Michael Gardner, said Mr Shepherd’s appointment underpinned STG’s commitment to its global expansion strategy.

“Brian’s appointment ensures that STG now has deep, relevant experience on the ground in the UK and provides a platform for managing the high growth opportunities in this region. In particular, we expect to see continued acceleration in the growth of the business events market,” Mr Gardner said. 

“Brian’s experience, initially as a communications strategist and experiential events expert, and then as a senior executive with some of the world’s leading publicly-listed strategic event businesses is an outstanding addition to our international team. His background also includes successfully overseeing event, marketing and AV sector-related mergers and acquisitions, to add strategic value, key accounts and business development opportunities. This experience will play an important role in STG’s continued global expansion plans.”

“There are few executives in the world with Brian’s depth of experience and proven track record in business growth within the events and business communication industry,” Michael Gardner concluded.Brian Shepherd holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and French (1980) from the University of Loughborough, England.