Expo 2020 to hire executive to lead visitor engagement

Expo 2020 Dubai expects to announce in January the appointment of a senior official tasked with attracting a targeted 25 million visits to the six-month mega-event that kicks off in three years’ time.

“From early 2018, our top team will be enhanced by the appointment of a chief visitor experience officer, who will lead the ongoing development of a world-class visitor experience that will be enjoyed by the millions who come to Expo 2020,” a spokesman for Expo 2020 Dubai said.

“We will make further announcements on this in due course.”

The news follows uncertainty as to whether Expo 2020 Dubai would opt to replace former chief operating officer Simon Clegg, the former chief executive and elected board member of the British Olympic Association, who left his position at the Expo in September.

Tony Aikenhead, who works in the Expo 2020 real estate team and previously served as chief executive of UK housebuilder Robert McAlpine until July 2016, has been acting COO in the meantime.

He will continue in his role with the new title of chief infrastructure and delivery officer, the spokesman said.

Dubai is ramping up investments in infrastructure in the run-up to Expo 2020, with expenditure in the emirate’s biggest ever budget jumping 19.5 per cent from 2017 to help finance Expo-related projects.

Total government investment for the Expo is forecast at Dh25 billion. In addition, the new metro extension leading to the Expo will cost Dh10.6bn.