The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) of Chicago hired in mid-August Chris Konecki as general manager of McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center. In this role, Konecki oversees daily operations for the convention center and works closely with employees, customers, labor partners, hospitality stakeholders, and event organizers to ensure McCormick Place continues to deliver exceptional service and world-class event experiences.
The appointment follows a national search conducted in partnership with SearchWide Global of St. Paul, Minnesota, a leading executive search firm serving the hospitality, tourism, venue management, and destination marketing industries. The search attracted a highly qualified and competitive pool of candidates from across the meetings, events, and venue management sectors.
“Chris is a respected leader who understands what makes McCormick Place special—our people, our customers, and our commitment to service,” says Larita Clark, CEO of MPEA, in a prepared statement. “The search process attracted exceptional candidates from across the country, but Chris distinguished himself through his unique combination of operational expertise, industry leadership, and a customer perspective. We are very pleased to have him back on campus.”
Konecki brings a unique perspective to the role, having spent much of his career understanding both convention center operations and the needs of event organizers. He began his career working for McCormick Place and spent 16 years with the authority, including serving as an event manager responsible for helping clients successfully execute meetings, conventions, and trade shows.
Following his time at McCormick Place, Konecki worked for the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which is the producer of the Chicago Auto Show. Over the next 20-plus years, he accumulated experience and insight into the evolving expectations of event organizers, exhibitors, and attendees. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and director of the Auto Show Operations, where he helped oversee one of the nation’s premier auto shows and worked closely with exhibitors, sponsors, venue operators, and industry partners.
“McCormick Place is one of the most iconic venues in the meetings and events industry, and it is an honor to once again join this extraordinary team,” says Konecki. “This campus played an important role in my professional development, and I am excited to return. I look forward to meeting with employees, customers, and partners, and to listen to their perspectives and build on the strong reputation McCormick Place has earned as a global leader in conventions and events.”
Konecki’s experience from both the venue and customer perspectives was a significant factor in his selection during a very competitive search process.
“Chris understands firsthand what it takes to operate a world-class convention center, but he also understands the challenges and expectations meeting planners, exhibitors, and event organizers face today,” says Clark. “That combination of operational knowledge and customer insight is incredibly valuable as McCormick Place continues evolving to meet the needs of our industry.”
The appointment comes as McCormick Place continues to build on strong convention and trade show activity while advancing customer-focused investments and operational improvements across its campus. Konecki officially assumed the role on Aug. 24.
