Sydney Showground has announced Darryl Jeffrey as its newly appointed General Manager following the retirement of Peter Thorpe in early July.

As the venue’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Jeffrey has been with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) and Sydney Showground since 2012 and boasts over thirteen years’ experience within the event industry and nineteen years in the Australian Army, making the transition into the role a natural progression for the new General Manager.

RAS Chief Executive Brock Gilmour says he looks forward to supporting Darryl Jeffrey as he drives the organisation forward.

“Darryl’s extensive knowledge and experience in events and leadership make him the perfect choice to guide Sydney Showground into this next chapter,” Mr Gilmour said.

“Over the years, Darryl has demonstrated his ability to manage the logistics of the venue and has led his team with great integrity. We’ve watched him steer this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, AFL season and countless events through the logistical challenges of COVID-19, going above and beyond to deliver results for the organisations and our clients.

“Darryl’s dedication and knowledge is invaluable to the RAS, and I look forward to supporting his vision for Sydney Showground in the coming months.”

Newly appointed General Manager Darryl Jeffrey says the dynamic venue has an exciting future ahead, and he is eager to be a part of that journey.

“It’s a privilege to lead Sydney Showground into a new era and be a part of an organisation that puts its clients and relationships first. It is this collaborative mindset that I will continue to focus on in my role as General Manager,” Mr Jeffrey said.

“With a great team by my side, we will continue to navigate the challenges in front of us and be back to delivering the innovative events and customer service the venue has become known for as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Mr Jeffrey is stepping across from his role as Sydney Showground’s Chief Operating Officer to lead Sydney Showground into a new era of events.

Darry Jeffrey shared the experience of running the Royal Easter Show during COVID in this interview