Leading London events venue, The QEII Centre, has strengthened its director team with the appointment of Elena Gurgul as Sales and Marketing Director and EeLain Ong as Finance Director. With the addition of the two new hires, the senior leadership team for the world-renowned meetings and exhibitions centre is now 60 per cent female.
Elena joins the venue as Sales and Marketing Director from Hyatt Place London Heathrow Airport, where she re-launched the hotel post-pandemic, built a brand-new corporate base, and secured several major airline contracts.
In her new role at the QEII Centre, she will use her skills and expertise to elevate the venue’s profile, implement innovative marketing strategies, drive strategic business growth, and foster lasting partnerships within the events and hospitality industry. Her commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences, coupled with her keen understanding of market trends, will contribute to the venue’s continued success and solidify its standing as a go-to choice for conferences, exhibitions, and special events.
Commenting on her new role, Elena said: “I am thrilled to take on the role of Sales and Marketing Director at such an iconic and internationally acclaimed venue. This is an exciting new challenge for me, and I can’t wait to hit the ground running and showcase the QEII Centre’s innovative, dynamic and versatile offering, ensuring it continues to thrive long into the future.”
New Finance Director EeLain Ong has worked across multiple sectors throughout her 28-year career in financial services. A qualified Chartered Accountant who has launched three successful start-ups, EeLain’s most recent positions were as Chief Financial Officer at Through Transport Insurance and DHL Insurance.
Drawing on this wealth of experience, her remit at the QEII Centre will include overseeing all financial operations, implementing robust financial strategies to support the organization’s growth, and enhancing financial systems to ensure transparency and efficiency. EeLain’s appointment comes at a critical time as the QEII Centre navigates the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving events industry. Her leadership is expected to strengthen the centre’s financial resilience and capacity for sustainable growth.
EeLain said: “It’s a joy to become part of the world-renowned QEII family and start this new chapter in my career within such a dedicated and enthusiastic team that focuses on enhancing the client experience. I can’t wait to continue building on the success of this pioneering world-class venue and am looking forward to making 2024 the QEII Centre’s best year yet.”
Elena and EeLain enhance a powerful cohort of female leaders at the QEII Centre whose remits range from HR and marketing to building operations and finance, and who have a profound effect on the running of Central London’s largest dedicated conference and exhibition space.
Since 1986, the flexible seven-storey QEII Centre has played host to a huge variety of events, from major international government conferences, to conventions, exhibitions and events for the corporate and association sectors, to dinners, AGMs, award ceremonies and graduations. Situated in a prime location opposite World Heritage Site, Westminster Abbey, the QEII Centre is one of London and the UK’s foremost conference and events centres.
