The new team is hoped to add to and strengthen existing initiatives in pushing Malaysia’s business events industry forward, says Dato’ Vincent Lim. Photo Credit: MACEOS
Industry stalwart Francis Teo has taken over leadership reins from
Dato’ Vincent Lim, who has served as the president of the Malaysian
Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers
(MACEOS) for the past three terms.
In his new role, a term that will last until 2022, Teo will be
supported by a new lineup of executive committee members, whom he hopes
would together lead MACEOS ahead in tackling the changes impacting the
meetings industry.
“We have to learn to change the way we operate in this industry. We
have to learn to pivot and also embrace event digitalisation. We believe
that event digitalisation will complement our industry but would never
replace it.”
Also the head of Setia City Convention Centre, Teo acknowledged the
“need to be less dependent on international markets entirely”, instead
looking to “network more, connect, and collaborate with each other so
that we could survive this period together”.
Dato’ Vincent Lim, who has played an instrumental role in his tenure
since 2014 – including the execution of Malaysia’s Business Events
Standard Operating Procedures, for the safe resumption of events – hopes
that the new blood would continue driving the business events industry,
“attracting new and younger members to take on an active role in the
association”.
The news was announced at the business association’s 30th annual
general meeting on 7 October, where guest-of-honour, Dato' Sri Abdul
Khani bin Daud, CEO of MyCEB reiterated the Bureau’s ongoing plans to
strengthen Malaysia’s business events industry.
These include competitive deals and subsidies to boost domestic
meetings, as well as a recent attempt at reviving the Asian Association
of Convention and Visitor Bureaus – where the new AACVB will shift its
rationale away from regional promotion and instead focus on research.