The International Corporate Events Network (ICEN) has appointed former Salesforce marketing and events leader Gareth Kelly as a non-executive director, strengthening the leadership team of the growing global community for senior in-house corporate event professionals.
The appointment comes shortly after the organisation’s rebrand to the International Corporate Events Network and the addition of Ben Goedegebuure to its board, signalling the group’s ambition as it expands its international footprint and influence.
Kelly brings extensive experience in global corporate marketing and events strategy, most recently from Salesforce, where he spent more than a decade helping to build and scale the company’s executive marketing and events engine across EMEA.
During his time at the technology giant, Kelly shaped engagement strategies around major global platforms including Dreamforce, Mobile World Congress and NRF. His work helped transform regional participation in Dreamforce into a coordinated programme representing a significant share of the global audience, while major event activations delivered hundreds of executive meetings and millions in marketing pipeline.
At ICEN, Kelly will work closely with the leadership team to shape the organisation’s corporate messaging and strategic narrative, with a focus on strengthening the community’s voice and demonstrating the value of corporate events to both industry and business audiences.
Anita Howard, founder and CEO of the International Corporate Events Network, said: “We’ve always believed that corporate event leaders sit at the centre of something incredibly powerful; they influence brands, shape customer experience, and increasingly drive business strategy. Gareth understands that world intimately. Having worked at Salesforce, he’s seen first-hand how events can power culture, community and commercial growth inside one of the world’s most influential organisations.
“As we continue to expand the International Corporate Events Network globally, Gareth’s perspective on messaging, positioning and storytelling will be hugely valuable.”
Kelly added: “What Anita and the team have built with the International Corporate Events Network is genuinely impressive. It has become one of the most respected communities for senior corporate event leaders, with an increasingly global footprint. The ambition behind the organisation, the quality of the conversations taking place within the community, and the way it represents the strategic value of corporate events is exceptional. I’m excited to support the next stage of its growth.”
The appointment comes as the organisation continues to develop its independent, intelligence-led platform designed to connect senior corporate event leaders with insights, relationships and expertise to deliver greater strategic impact.
Together with fellow non-executive director Ben Goedegebuure, Kelly’s arrival signals ICEN’s intention to combine strategic insight with industry leadership as it scales its programmes and global community.
