The organisers of the UK's latest meetings and events trade show have appointed former Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) project director Steve Knight as exhibition director. Centaur Exhibitions said Knight was the 'perfect' man to launch The Meetings Show UK, which takes place in July next year.

Knight, who joins The Meetings Show UK next month, has spent 15 years in the events industry, including a short stint at Visit Britain, where he headed up the business travel team. Most recently he was project director of RTE’s Baltimore-based trade show AIBTM, which went head-to-head with the first IMEX America last year.

Centaur Exhibitions has promised exhibitors 1,000 fully-hosted buyers at the inaugural show.

Andrew Evans, managing director, said: “We are creating a show run by meeting professionals, for meeting professionals and the appointment of Steve is a perfect illustration of this. He brings with him a wealth of experience plus the credibility and respect he has built in his 15 years of involvement in this industry.”

Knight added: “Centaur’s decision to launch a hosted buyer led meetings show has come at the perfect time for an industry looking to achieve maximum value from marketing, meeting and education budgets and time.” 

The Meetings Show UK will take place in July, 2013, at Olympia, London.