Anthony Lishman set to leave Conference Centres of Excellence

Anthony Lishman, Executive Director of Conference Centres of Excellence (CCE), will be leaving the consortium at the end of March to pursue his long held ambition to run his own consultancy business.

Anthony joined CCE in August 2008 as its first full time Executive Director, with the objective of enhancing its position as the UK’s leading association of specialist conference venues. The consortium’s fundamental proposition is that the specialist focus and facilities provided by dedicated conference venues provide the optimum environment for successful meetings and events. This philosophy is supported by the principle of all-inclusive, ‘no hidden extras’ rates, a proposition offered by all CCE members.

He has strengthened CCE’s position in a number of ways and has formed a range of partnerships, including most recently one with its partnerships with ABPCO & BV&EP.  He has also significantly strengthened CCE’s central sales venue-finding service for conference buyers, which provides a ‘one stop shop access’ to members’ facilities and services. Anthony is also credited with broadening the consortium’s geographical footprint along with establishing ‘preferred supplier' partnerships in key sectors in order to help members optimise quality.  

“It is to Anthony’s great credit that he has strengthened CCE’s position during an unprecedented economic downturn where venues in general have become much more selective about joining organisations,” said CCE Chair John Carson, Managing Director of Ashorne Hill in Warwickshire: “Through his empathy for, and knowledge of the sector he has created a very robust platform for the consortium and built a much stronger set of services for members. We all wish Anthony the very best in his new endeavour.”

Before joining CCE, Anthony worked extensively in sales and marketing and venue management roles across the conference sector. His experience included the development of new business opportunities and responsibility for major facility investment. He has also developed conference and training venues from green field sites to fully operational businesses with multi-million pound turnovers. 

“It has been both challenging and fulfilling to help CCE develop into a nationally recognised quality consortium. The challenge was made easier by the work of my team of true professionals and the enthusiastic contribution of many member venues and managers,” commented Anthony. “Though the meetings sector is in a continuous state of flux - with changing priorities, new technologies and a fluctuating economic environment - I have no doubt that the specialist venue concept continues to provide the best guarantee of successful meetings and events.”