Commercial Events Manager

Sales Manager - International Defence Event London | Competitive Salary + Commission + Excellent Benefits I am recruiting on behalf of my client for an experienced Sales Manager to join the team launching a high-profile defence and security event in Africa. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in driving exhibitor and sponsorship sales for a flagship launch event, working with government agencies, defence contractors, and industry stakeholders across Africa and global markets. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy to meet revenue targets Identify, approach, and secure exhibitors, sponsors, and partners across defence, aerospace, and security sectors Build and maintain relationships with government bodies, trade associations, and international delegations Negotiate and close exhibition space sales, sponsorships, and partnership agreements Maintain an active sales pipeline and provide regular reporting to the Sales Director Collaborate with marketing, operations, and content teams to ensure commitments are delivered Represent the event at industry forums, conferences, and networking opportunities Support on-site sales and client relationship management during the event About You Degree educated with 5+ years' proven B2B sales experience, ideally in defence, aerospace, security or large-scale international events/exhibitions Strong network across the defence and security sectors in Africa and internationally Track record of exceeding sales targets and driving business development Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills Confident engaging with senior-level stakeholders and decision-makers Proactive, with the ability to thrive under pressure and meet deadlines Fluent in English (French, Arabic, or Portuguese an advantage) Strong CRM knowledge (Salesforce preferred) Willingness to travel extensively across Africa and internationally Package Competitive base salary + commission Excellent benefits International travel opportunities This role is ideal for a commercially driven sales professional who is excited by the challenge of shaping and growing a new international defence event. We Are Aspire Ltd are a