Clarion Events North America promotes Liz Irving to CEO

Clarion Events North America is proud to announce the promotion of Liz Irving to CEO, recognising her exceptional leadership, transformative vision, and deep commitment to fostering business growth and industry collaboration.

As President of Clarion Events North America, Irving has played a pivotal role in positioning the business for success by driving strategic initiatives that unlock new revenue streams and open doors to transformative business opportunities. Under her leadership, the division has achieved strong growth, driven innovation, and has embedded a customer first operating model.  

Irving’s tenure as President has also focused on instilling a culture of accountability and collaboration across the organisation. By empowering her team to excel, she cultivates a high-performing workforce that is consistently recognised for delivering outstanding experiences and setting new standards in the events industry. For the third year Clarion Events North America has been certified as a Great Place to Work organisation.

“Liz has consistently demonstrated an ability to identify new opportunities, navigate complex challenges, and drive exceptional results,” said Greg Topalian, former CEO and now Chairman of Clarion Events North America. “Her leadership as President opened doors to meaningful partnerships, expanded our market reach, and laid the foundation for a thriving future. I have no doubt her vision as CEO will continue to transform our business.”

Irving’s contributions extend beyond Clarion, with her active involvement on industry boards, including SISO, UFI, Revenue Room™ Connect, and several technology groups where she has been a vocal advocate for innovation and collaboration. Her influence in shaping the future of the events industry is reflected in her ability to anticipate trends, respond with agility to evolving customer needs and bring colleagues with her on that journey, which has been noticed by many in the industry.

“I am truly honored to take on the role of CEO at Clarion Events North America,” said Irving. “The foundation we’ve built as a team has positioned us for even greater success. By embracing innovation, leveraging data and insights, and creating connected experiences, we will continue to unlock opportunities that deliver exceptional value to our customers and partners.”

Lisa Hannant, Global CEO of Clarion Events, noted, “Liz’s promotion reflects our commitment to recognising exceptional talent and leadership. Her work as President has been instrumental in driving new business opportunities and fostering a culture of delivering at the highest level. I am excited to see how Liz will build on this momentum as CEO to take our North American business to new heights.”

Liz will continue to report to Greg Topalian, Chairman of Clarion Events North America overseeing all divisions except for the newly formed Clarion Connect division. The entire Clarion Events team congratulates Liz Irving on her well-deserved promotion to CEO and looks forward to her continued leadership in driving growth, fostering culture, and strengthening the company’s industry impact.