Veteran administrator associated with the Statue of Unity and Sardar Sarovar Dam to spearhead Mohali project and Exhicon’s national venue expansion

Exhicon Events Media Solutions Limited has announced the appointment of Mr. Nilesh Kumar Dubey as Chief Executive Officer – Venue Development, effective 26 October 2026. With over 35 years of experience in government administration, infrastructure development and tourism operations, Mr. Dubey will lead the company’s venue development initiatives, beginning with the upcoming Mohali Exhibition & Convention Centre.

The Mohali Exhibition & Convention Centre, being developed through a joint venture between Exhicon and India Exposition Mart Ltd (IEML), will be his immediate priority. He will lead Phase 1 from infrastructure completion to operational readiness, commercial launch and revenue generation, with a target deadline of 31 May 2027. Following this, he will take on a broader leadership role in Exhicon’s national venue development and expansion strategy.

Mr. Dubey brings extensive administrative and operational experience from his distinguished career with the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat. His professional journey includes significant responsibilities in two of India's landmark infrastructure and tourism projects – the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam Project and the Statue of Unity.

During his association with the Sardar Sarovar Project, he handled land acquisition, legal affairs and rehabilitation. At the Statue of Unity, he served as Assistant Commissioner – Tourism Operations & Infrastructure Development, overseeing operations, facility management, capital expenditure, vendor governance, security and visitor experience.

He also served as Additional Collector – Tourism Operations with Gujarat Tourism, managing operations, human resources and governance across more than 50 tourism destinations. His career began in district administration as Deputy Collector, where he handled revenue administration, land records and public-service delivery.

At Exhicon, his mandate will extend beyond infrastructure development to building a sustainable commercial ecosystem for the Mohali venue. Key priorities will include developing partnerships with exhibition and convention organisers, corporates, industry associations, institutions and government bodies; converting business opportunities into confirmed revenues; establishing pricing and commercial models; and driving venue utilisation through recurring exhibitions, conferences, trade fairs and business events.

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, Mr. Dubey will have ownership of venue development and commercial performance within the company's approved governance framework.

A significant development for India's MICE infrastructure

The appointment marks an important step in Exhicon's ambition to strengthen its presence in India's exhibition and convention infrastructure sector. With the Mohali Exhibition & Convention Centre as its first major assignment, the company aims to combine professional venue management, institutional partnerships and commercial expertise to create a competitive destination for exhibitions, conventions and business events.

Mr. Dubey's experience in managing large-scale tourism infrastructure and government-led projects is expected to bring valuable administrative depth and operational expertise to Exhicon's expanding venue development portfolio.

The Mohali project represents another important addition to India's growing MICE infrastructure landscape, with the potential to strengthen the region's positioning as a destination for national and international exhibitions, conventions and business events.