Description
The VP of Events will lead the strategic and operational transformation of the Automotive News Group and Crain's Global Polymer Group event portfolios-driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence across more than 9 brands and20 global events annually. This executive will be responsible for full P&L ownership and end-to-end delivery of tentpole summits, one-day forums, awards galas, executive roundtables, private dinnersand custom experiences that elevate both brands' influence and industry leadership.
Working across editorial, sales, marketing, and audience development, the VP will translate brand authority into compelling event experiences that attract high-value audiences and generate multimillion-dollar revenue through tickets, sponsorships, and new products. The ideal candidate is equal parts strategic architect, product innovator, and operational leader-capable of building a roadmap for growth while ensuring flawless execution in every detail.
Key Responsibilities
Set the vision & roadmap - craft a 3-year growth plan that aligns event concepts with overall Automotive News Group and Global Polymer Group growth plans, brand positioning, editorial calendars and revenue targets.
Own full P&L - develop budgets, pricing and margin targets; forecast, track and optimize revenue (tickets, sponsorship, ancillary products) and costs; create business cases for new launches and M&A opportunities
Product innovation - launch new formats (micro-events/dinners, regional roadshows, expanded tentpole events) and experiences that extend value beyond show days.
Programming strategy - own the high-level content architecture for every event; partner with head of programming and content leaders to define themes, session formats, speaker targets, and data-driven storytelling that differentiate AN and GPG programming from competitors.
Audience growth & attendee experience - set the strategy and drive end-to-end executionfor a best-in-class attendee registration journey and event-marketing site flow; partner with marketing, data and content teams to build segmented acquisition funnels and deliver best-in-class attendee journeys
Sponsorship strategy - design tiered sponsorship architecture; collaborate with ad-sales on packaging, pricing and bespoke activations that leverage AN/GPG editorial assets and Crain's broader ecosystem; partner with sales leadership to penetrate new spend categories.
Operational excellence - lead event operations team, technology stack (registration, Cvent, mobile app, analytics) and vendor selection for flawless, scalable execution.
Market intelligence - Continuously scan industry trends, competitor moves, and tech innovations; convert insight into new event concepts or pivots.
Team leadership - inspire, coach and restructure a distributed team; embed OKRs and rigorous post-event debrief loops to drive continuous improvement.
Requirements
15+ years building and scaling B2B event portfolios, including multi-brand or multi-vertical oversight.
Proven leader who can cascade strategy into clear objectives for programming, sales, and operations teams; track record of working with experienced operations teams to align event strategy into on-site, day-of execution
Demonstrated record ofrevenue growth, new event launches, long-term strategic planningand big sponsorship wins.
Strong team leader with experience reorganizing under-resourced groups into high-performing units.
Exceptional collaborator-equally effective with direct-report teams and distributed corporate support resources.
Able to travel 25-50% domestically and internationally
Preferences
Strong network in automotive, manufacturing or adjacent industrial sectors is a plus.
Fluency with Cvent event management platform
This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.
Pay Transparency Disclosure:
The estimated base salary for this position is $140,000 - $175,000.
The final salary offering will take into accounta wide range of factors, including experience, accomplishments and location. The salary range provided should not be considered as a salary limit or cap. In addition to base salary, Crain also offers competitive benefits including retirement plan savings contributions and bonus opportunities based on individual and company performance.
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Brand Overview:
Since 1925,Automotive Newshas been the go-to place for all the news that is happening among automotive retailers, suppliers and manufacturers. Whether it is breaking news sent to a phone, digital editions and web products delivered to a desktop, or stories in the award-winning print edition,Automotive Newscovers the news everywhere it happens around the world. Breaking news, data, daily newscasts, webinars, conferences and events are just some of the offerings.AutomotiveNews,Automotive News EuropeandAutomotive News Chinaare created locally and are backed by a global team of 50 editors and reporters, as well... For full info follow application link.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor s legal duty to furnish information.
