Chris Skeith

CEO

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI)

Chris Skeith has served in the exhibition industry for over 30 years, most recently as UFI CEO, which represents over 100 UK based organisers who operate across the world.

Chris has built a career in the not for profit sector, starting his exhibition career in media auditing at the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and in 2006 Chris moved into the associations sector. He merged two event associations in the service supplier sector to form The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), and in 2010, he also became Director of ESSA’s sister association, Association of Event Venues (AEV). In 2014, he took the role of their other sister association, AEO.

During this time, he has held several voluntary positions, including Chair of the UK Government’s Events Industry Board for the DCMS, member of the Department for Business and Trade’s Professional and Business Services Committee, and Chair of UKEVENTS a partnership of associations in the UK event industry. He has previously served as an UFI Board Member and chair of their associations committee.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021, he was awarded an OBE, for services to the Events Industry.

In January 2025, he took over as CEO of UFI.