Michael Champion

Michael Champion is a British business leader and international events strategist, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Tahaluf, Saudi Arabia’s leading business events company. Widely regarded as having had unprecedented impact on the events landscape in the Middle East, Champion has been instrumental in positioning the Kingdom as a major new force in international trade, investment, and soft power through large-scale events. Since co-founding Tahaluf in 2022, Champion has led the company through a period of exceptional growth—scaling revenues by over 100% year-on-year to reach SAR 1 billion in 2025, and establishing Tahaluf as one of the top 20 events organisers in the world. From an initial team of fewer than five people, the company now employs more than 300 professionals from across the globe, delivering events and digital platforms that meet the highest international standards. Under Champion’s leadership, Tahaluf has launched some of the most significant B2B events in history, including: LEAP – the world’s most attended technology event, independently ranked as the #1 tech event brand globally. Cityscape Global – now the largest real estate exhibition on the planet. Black Hat MEA – the most attended cybersecurity event in the world. 24Fintech (now Money20/20 MEA) – the largest Fintech debut event ever staged. CPHI Middle East – the biggest pharmaceutical launch event in history. Together, these events attract nearly one million attendees each year, including over 100,000 international business visitors—investors, entrepreneurs, government delegations, and Fortune 500 leaders—who fly into Saudi Arabia, strengthening economic diplomacy, stimulating FDI, and creating new multilateral trade opportunities. Tahalufs platforms are conservatively estimated to generate SAR 11 billion annually in direct economic impact, with this number expected to rise significantly in the years ahead. Champion was also a Co-Creator of LEAP, which has redefined the global tech conference landscape in just a few years. The event now serves as a powerful example of how emerging markets can lead in convening the future of global innovation. Across all his projects, Champion is known for his team-oriented leadership style and his focus on long-term impact. He regularly credits his success to the “exceptional people” he works with—colleagues who have helped build Tahaluf into a company with both global reach and local purpose. Born and raised in the UK, Champion brings a blend of British business acumen and international perspective to his work. His career has spanned the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and he has consistently helped governments and private sector leaders use the power of live events to drive national transformation. Now based in Riyadh, Champion continues to work at the intersection of business, culture, and diplomacy—shaping the future of the global events industry while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s economic evolution and international standing.