AireCon Founder Mark Cooke Joins UK Games Expo as Operations Director

AireCon founder Mark Cooke is joining UK Games Expo as its new Operations Director, with a phased handover that will eventually see him working full-time on the Birmingham convention following AireCon’s final event next year,

UK Games Expo announced the appointment on 15th September, describing it as part of it’s long-term plans for the fture of the show rather than an immediate change of leadership.

Cooke will work alongside UKGE founders Richard Denning and Tony Hyams over the next few events, gradually taking on greater responsibility for the planning and delivery of the convention. Denning and Hyams will remain closely involved during the transition.

The appointment comes only weeks after the announcement that AireCon will end in 2027.

Cooke founded AireCon with a group of friends in 2015, with the first gathering taking place in his flat and attracting just 28 people. The convention subsequently moved to Harrogate and grew into one of the largest tabletop gaming events in the UK, attracting around 5,000 attendees in 2026.

Its final convention, dubbed AIREMAGEDDON, will take place at the Harrogate Convetnion centre from 11th-14th March 2027. AireCon’s other events are also being wound down, with ACWest holding its final gathering this autumn.

Cooke will comntinue working on AireCon through its finale before transitioning to UK Games Expo full-time.

“My aim is to build on the fantastic foundations already in place while helping UKGE continue to grow and thrive for many years to come.” Cooke said in the announcement.

Richard Denning said that as UK Games Expo has expanded, its organising team has grown alongside it, adding event managers, administrators, and logistics support. He described bringing Cooke on board as the next stage in ensuring the convention can continue well into the future.

The longer term running of UK Games Expo has almost certainly played a part in Mark’s appointment, with Patrick Campbell, one of the founders of the show, passing away in February 2026. With Mark’s personal experience of growing a convention from a couple of dozen to over 5,000 attendees and running multiple events each year he is a fantastic appointment, not only to add to the existing team but for the longer term future of the show as an experienced event organiser and a ‘safe pair of hands’ for whenever Richard and Tony eventually step away from the show themselves.

UK Games Expo returns to Birmingham’s NEC and Hilton Hotel from 4th to 6th June 2027, when the convention will once again occupy five NEC halls.