Departing on August 30, he will remain as an advisor to the venue until the end of the year as the business undertakes its leadership transition.
Donaghy has spent three decades with ASM Global – formerly AEG Ogden – which manages ICC Sydney and is part of the public private partnership that developed the venue.
Prior to taking the lead at ICC Sydney in 2014 during the venue’s pre-opening period, Donaghy was the CEO of Suncorp Stadium for eight years and the managing director of Cairns Convention Centre for nine years. Before joining ASM Global, he was general manager of Tourism Tropical North Queensland for five years.
“Geoff Donaghy is one of ASM Global’s longest serving executives having contributed greatly to the establishment of key venues in our portfolio, including Cairns Convention Centre, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, numerous venue management bids globally and of course ten years of extraordinary success at ICC Sydney,” said ASM Global’s APAC executive chairman, Harvey Lister, AM.
“As CEO, Geoff and his ICC Sydney team have secured and operated events that have delivered almost $4 billion in economic impact for the state, but his inspiring leadership is renowned for living up to the promise of ICC Sydney’s mission to make a difference – for one another, clients, community and the environment.
“Moreover, I recognise one of Geoff’s greatest achievements in successfully navigating ICC Sydney and our broader industry through the challenging times of the COVID pandemic,” said Lister.
In addition to his role at ICC Sydney, Donaghy has been the group director of convention centres in APAC for ASM Global for more than two decades.
“It is with great pride that I reflect on the milestones of the past three decades,” said Donaghy.
“Serving our teams, clients and community has been an absolute privilege.
“The team here at ICC Sydney has achieved many accolades, but I am most immensely proud of our investment in the strength of our people and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“I look forward to seeing these important legacies continued into the decades ahead,” he said.
