• December 2010

ExCeL London CEO Kevin Murphy has topped a poll of senior business figures that have been ranked according to their contribution to the events industry over the past 12 months.

Commissioned by the leading industry magazine Event, more than 3,700 readers voted in the annual Event 100 Club poll. Kevin climbed 17 places from last year to hit the top spot, joining fellow ExCeL London colleagues; Managing Director, David Pegler (46) and James Mark, Services & 2012 Games Director (69).

The results come in what has been a momentous year for ExCeL London with the launch of the capital's first international convention centre, ICC London ExCeL in June. Since its opening, the venue has secured events that are estimated to generate around a quarter of a million pounds of economic benefit for the city.

Kevin also became a core driving force behind the formation of London's Business Tourism Group back in 2009, which, with the support and endorsement of Visit London and The Mayor's Office has been making strides in strengthening and developing the city's business tourism offering.

Kevin Murphy commented; "The result of this Event poll is credit to the whole team behind, not just the launch of the ICC this year but all of the efforts that we have been involved with as a destination to improve the attractiveness of London to global meetings and exhibitors."

He continued; "As a result of such collaborations, we have already seen London move up the International Congress and Convention Association's (ICCA) city rankings from 19th to 16th place and continues to grow increasingly more competitive as we head towards the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."