Richard Limb will step down as President of the National Outdoor Event Association (NOEA) after 13 years in the post. Limb leaves following the culmination of NOEA’s most successful conference yet, and a glittering awards ceremony.

Limb, will pass the baton onto Andy Grove, Vice President of NOEA, who will take on the position for an interim period while a new President is found. Limb will continue to serve the association to ensure a seamless handover and implementation of a new strategy and a new voice from the association that begun with the convention and awards.

“Few people in the history of NOEA has contributed as much as Richard has; 13 years is an incredibly long period of time for a commitment that requires a great deal of personal and professional attention, commented Andy Grove, Vice President of NOEA. “On behalf of all of our members, both past and present, I’d like to thank Richard for this extraordinary contribution.

“Being President of NOEA is an incredible honour, a major responsibility and a lot of hard work, and I’ve loved every second of it, commented Richard Limb. “Over the years we’ve met and worked alongside some of the best outdoor event organisers anywhere on the planet; from small festivals to Lord Sebastian Coe and the Olympic Games. The association has an incredible future and I’m looking forward to staying involved, if from the back seat a little more!

The NOEA Convention was titled the Commercialisation Project: Making More Money Out of Events and was attended by well over 120 members and non-members of NOEA. Meanwhile the Annual NOEA Awards saw a record 125 people in attendance.

“The present council, under Richard’s leadership has been focussed on creating a new voice from our association and to help lead it, and our industry, to create more benefit, more value and more opportunity for our members, continued Andy. “The reaction to the convention and awards was amazing, and we’re looking forward to carrying on this message.