David Hornby, former Commercial Director of Visit London, has joined England 2018, the organisation tasked with securing the Football World Cup for the UK in nine years' time.
Hornby joins England 2018 in a consultancy role. He will oversee the bid's planning activities with the hotel, hospitality and events industry.
During his six years at Visit London, Hornby re-launched London's Convention Bureau, supported London's successful bid for the Olympics in 2012 and led the formation of the capital's first ever major events team. The team secured a variety of high-profile events for the capital, including the NFL, UEFA Champions League Final 2011, World Badminton Championships 2011 and this year's first London Restaurant Festival.
Ian Riley, Director of England 2018 Technical Bid, commented: "I am delighted that David has joined the bid team as he brings to us a wealth of experience and contacts that will enable us to meet the challenges of presenting an exceptional bid for England 2018".
Commenting on his appointment, Hornby said; "The role at Visit London afforded me some incredible experiences, including an amazing involvement with the London 2012 Bid. But having the opportunity to bring the world's largest event to our country in a sport that we are truly passionate about is a true privilege. I look forward to working with this talented team and the industry to gain their support for the bid".
Fifteen English cities have been shortlisted as prospective venues for matches. They comprise Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Sunderland in the north; Birmingham, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham in the Midlands; and Bristol, London, Milton Keynes and Portsmouth in the south.
FIFA will decide who hosts both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in December 2010. The decision rests with FIFA 24-man executive committee. Spain and Russia are expected to be England's main rivals in Europe, while the US and Australia are among the other countries bidding.
