Melanie Smith CBE is the CEO of the NEC Group and joined the Group in September 2023.

With a wealth of leadership experience, previous roles have included CEO of Ocado.com, Strategy and Services Director for Marks & Spencer, Global Marketing and Strategy Director at Bupa, Chief Operating Officer at TalkTalk and Partner at McKinsey.

She is also the Deputy Chair of Sadler’s Wells and the Remuneration Committee Chair of SSE and is the founder of the Mokaraka Trust - an education charity that funds Māori women who are pursuing university studies in business.