Michael Gwilliam

Chief Commercial Officer

Michael Gwilliam is Chief Commercial Officer and one of the founders of XSEM. Having built the business from day one, he combines commercial expertise with a passion for people, client relationships and growth.

His commitment to delivering exceptional experiences has helped shape both XSEM’s culture and long-term success.

  • Co-founder of XSEM with industry experience dating back to 2003.
  • Specialist in business development, relationship building and commercial growth.
  • Known for his people-first approach, competitive spirit and relentless attention to detail.

Bio & notable achievements

Michael has been part of XSEM since its very first day and has played an instrumental role in shaping the business into what it is today. As one of the founders, his initial focus was business development, generating new opportunities and helping establish the foundations needed for long-term success. From those early sales calls and client meetings, he built many relationships that have evolved into lifelong friendships and loyal client partnerships.

Now serving as Chief Commercial Officer, Michael continues to play a key role in guiding the growth and direction of the business. He is passionate about building strong relationships, creating memorable experiences and ensuring clients receive exceptional service at every stage of their journey with XSEM.

Driven by a genuine desire to make people happy, Michael remains as competitive and ambitious as ever, taking great pride in seeing the business evolve, watching colleagues develop successful careers and seeing increasingly ambitious projects delivered by the team. In fact, his enthusiasm, energy and ability to bring people together have even earned him the unofficial title of “Director of Fun” among the XSEM team.

Outside of XSEM

Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending as much time as possible supporting his children in their sporting pursuits. Whether it’s netball, football, rugby or cricket, he can often be found on the sidelines cheering them on and celebrating their achievements. Watching them develop their skills, confidence and love of sport is something he values immensely.

Brands Michael has worked with

Molson Coors Beverage Company logo
Arla logo
MKM logo
Madri Logo
Bestway Retail logo
Carlsberg logo
PPG MaxMeyer logo
FP McCann_Logo
Co-op Wholesale Logo in black
Bestway Retail logo
Suntory logo
Polypipe logo
Nisa logo
Group 1 Automotive logo
Jack Daniel's logo
Thought leadership

Michael's latest news and blog articles

  • Industry Insight
What actually makes an FMCG exhibition deliver ROI?

The success of an exhibition isn't determined by how impressive it looks in a render or how busy it feels on the day. It's determined by whether it helps exhibitors and attendees achieve meaningful commercial outcomes.

Walkers crisps stand at the Co-op Wholesale Showcase
Case studies

Michael's favourite case studies

United: EAC Paris 90% of attendees engaged with event app

Our client is a global pharmaceutical company with over 4,000 employees, specialising in several therapy areas in 150 countries. They approached us to design and elevate their annual European leadership event, marking the close of a successful year and setting the tone for the next.

View Case Study United EAC Paris event branding
Carling: Score with Carling Over 2,500 prizes won

Score with Carling is a fun and interactive penalty shootout mobile game, designed to drive Carling’s brand association with football, all while rewarding Carling consumers. In the three consecutive years we have run Score with Carling, our POS has been scanned just under 200,000 times.

View Case Study Smartphone displaying the Score with Carling app
Group 1 Auto UK - One Way to Win A cohesive event identity that stood out across every touchpoint

A two-day leadership conference at Telford International Centre, combining a main plenary, networking, an awards dinner and in-depth breakout sessions.

View Case Study Two presenters speaking on stage at the Group 1 Auto UK Next Level Leadership Conference
Molson Coors - Winning Together 90% of attendees rated the content useful

A two-day commercial conference bringing together all corners of Molson Coors Beverage Company, with 20+ breakout sessions of collaboration and insight.

View Case Study Molson Coors: Winning Together speaker on stage
The Works: 'Find your Story' Bus 9-stop tour across the UK

We partnered with The Works to launch ‘Find Your Story’, a national campaign designed to help children rediscover reading through choice, curiosity and play. At the heart of the campaign sat a touring book bus, bringing stories directly into communities and turning reading into a shared, child‑led experience.

View Case Study The Works: 'Find your Story' Bus outside with queue of attendees ready to find their story