AIPC, the International Association of Convention Centres, has appointed its first CEO, Sven Bossu. He will report directly to the AIPC Board and started his new role on 1 May.

The association has also engaged Interel, a professional association management company.

The moves indicate a bold move by AIPC towards raising the professionalism of the association as a global industry leader.

Bossu will be responsible for finding and developing opportunities to upgrade member services, improve programme offerings, strengthen regional membership engagement and expand collaboration with like-minded associations in the meetings and events and adjacent industries.

More immediately, the focus will lie on providing support to AIPC members facing the impact of the Covid-19 situation by creating a digital community platform for members to exchange experiences and best practices; and jointly prepare for the next steps of recovery.

In his previous role, Bossu was the Managing Director for Innovation at ESTRO, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology. He also has eight years of experience from the meetings industry through his time at SWIFT, where he was responsible for the organisation of their world-renowned SIBOS conference.