MPEA Names Chris Konecki General Manager of McCormick Place

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority has appointed Chris Konecki as general manager of McCormick Place, North America's largest convention centre. He takes up the role on 24 August and will oversee daily operations, working with employees, customers, labour partners, hospitality stakeholders and event organisers. The appointment followed a national search run with executive search firm SearchWide Global that drew a competitive field from the meetings, events and venue management sectors. Konecki began his career at McCormick Place and spent 16 years with the authority, including as an event manager helping clients deliver meetings, conventions and trade shows. He then joined the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, producer of the Chicago Auto Show, where over more than 20 years he built experience of organiser, exhibitor and attendee expectations, most recently as executive vice president and director of auto show operations. MPEA chief executive Larita Clark said Konecki stood out for a combination of operational expertise, industry leadership and customer perspective, which is valuable as the venue evolves to meet industry needs. Konecki said the campus shaped his professional development and he intends to build on its reputation. McCormick Place offers 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space and 173 meeting rooms, drawing about 3 million visitors a year.