Former Istanbul CVB GM to take over as ICCA regional director for Europe

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has appointmed Elif Balci Fisunoglu as its new regional director for Europe. She will take up the post on 1 January 2018. Elif has spent 15 years with the Istanbul Convention Bureau, including in senior sales and marketing positions before serving three years as general manager. She played a major role in the bidding team and Local Host Committee for the 2014 ICCA Congress in Antalya. She has chaired ICCA’s Mediterranean Chapter, has regularly participated in client-supplier workshops, and has hands-on experience of using a wide variety of ICCA’s business tools. ICCA CEO Martin Sirk said: “Our regional director positions require a unique combination of strategic thinking, practical problem-solving, cultural sensitivity, and deep knowledge of ICCA and the wider meetings industry. Elif ticks all of these boxes, combining impressive academic credentials with extensive hands-on experience in winning bids, managing tight marketing budgets, and building collaborative relationships. I believe she will quickly become a valuable asset for our members throughout Europe.” Elif Balci Fisunoglu commented: “I am very excited to be joining ICCA, which I have known and loved for so many years as a member, in this important and challenging role. It will be an honour and privilege to work with our members in Europe to help them understand how to get the most value from their membership, and I look forward to contributing towards ICCA’s strategic evolution and future success.” David Bodor was previously the regional director for Europe for ICCA. He was appointed in 2016.