Farnborough International Limited has announced the appointment of Barbara Crow as the sales manager for FIVE (Farnborough International Venue and Events).

Since its inception in January, FIVE has enjoyed a strong first year with diverse clients and events, ranging from global product launches to exhibitions, and a debut at the Farnborough International Airshow, where multi-national aerospace leaders, BAE Systems, became the inaugural Airshow exhibitors in the venue. As enquiries and bookings for 2009 and 2010 continue to come in, the appointment of an experienced sales manager will ensure the exploitation of sales opportunities moving forward, and the development of major client relationship management.

Crow: Bolstering Five's sales force

Crow joins FIVE from Sandown Park Racecourse where she was head of events sales for four years. After starting her event career in an exhibition organising role over 20 years ago, Crow moved into venue management at the Barbican Centre and subsequently Wembley. She moved across into venue sales at Sandown Park, leaving there to join ExCeL, at its very inception, before returning to Sandown Park.

Speaking about her new role, Crow said: “I am extremely excited by the great opportunity FIVE creates for event organisers looking for a purpose built, clean event space in an area so well placed for hotels and easy road access within the M4/M3 corridor.”

Shaun Ormrod, Farnborough International Limited’s chief executive, added: “Since becoming operational at the beginning of the year, FIVE has enjoyed excellent occupancy with key clients, such as BAE Systems, IHG – which launched their global re-brand at the venue – and a number of significant trade and consumer exhibitions which have already re-booked for 2009. Barbara is a highly experienced events and venues sales professional, and her appointment will enable us to really develop our sales strategy and events delivery for the venue.”