Hyve Group had strengthened its senior leadership across three of its flagship trade shows Spring Fair, Autumn Fair and Glee with the appointment of new event directors as part of its long-term growth strategy.
Spring Fair had appointed Fay Tranter as Event Director, while Matthew Mein had taken on the role of Event Director for both Autumn Fair and Glee. The leadership changes were introduced to support the continued expansion of the shows and to strengthen their strategic direction ahead of the 2026 editions.
Fay Tranter had joined Hyve on 1 December, bringing a strong background across B2B and B2C events, marketing, sales and event leadership. Her previous experience also included work in the West End theatre sector with Andrew Lloyd Webber. The role was created to provide focused leadership for Spring Fair as it continued to evolve into a more experience-led marketplace.
Matthew Mein had stepped into his new role after more than 17 years with Hyve, having worked across several of the group’s event portfolios. His appointment aimed to support closer alignment between Autumn Fair and Glee following the co-location of the two shows, while maintaining their distinct sector identities.
At the time of the announcement, Spring Fair had been tracking 20% ahead year-on-year in buyer registrations, alongside a 30% rise in new brands, a 10% increase in new exhibitors, and a 20% growth in international participation.
Autumn Fair and Glee had also been performing strongly, both tracking 20% ahead year-on-year. Together, the two shows had recorded an 8% increase in buyers in 2025, and organisers had confirmed that 80% of the combined 2026 floorplan had already been sold, reflecting strong market confidence.
Spring Fair was scheduled to take place from 1–4 February at the NEC Birmingham, reinforcing its position as one of the UK’s most important retail and gifting trade events.
These leadership appointments underscored Hyve Group’s commitment to investing in its core exhibitions and strengthening their market impact through focused leadership and coordinated growth strategies.
