LONDON – Charlie McCurdy, CEO of Informa Markets, is set to take on a new leadership role as a strategic advisor to the Informa Group, effective January 2023. McCurdy will remain CEO until the end of the year before handing over the reins to Patrick Martell, current CEO of Informa Intelligence and COO of the Informa Group. Martell will assume the role of CEO of Informa Markets while continuing in his role as COO of the Group.
McCurdy is a recognized leader in the trade show industry, having spent 35 years leading B2B events and media companies, including the last seven years as CEO of Informa Markets. As a strategic advisor, he will continue to support the development of Informa Markets’ digital and data services, as well as provide broader input and support on key partner relationships and future growth opportunities, during the period of Informa’s Growth Acceleration Plan II 2021-2024.
“When I joined Informa Markets seven years ago, I was convinced that we could transform this leading regional exhibition business into a leading global business. I truly believe we have achieved that and more, transforming ourselves from a leading exhibition business into a true global market access provider. We are delivering greater value to our clients on and off the show floor, and the business is in a fantastic position with so much opportunity on the horizon,” said McCurdy.
As CEO, McCurdy oversaw Informa Markets through the acquisition of Penton Information Services, the Yachting Promotions Inc. boat show business and the landmark acquisition of UBM. He also led Informa Markets through the pandemic, helping to identify new digital solutions and data opportunities while strengthening the show business throughout 2021 and into 2022.
“My experience leading the Informa Markets business is second to none, but I am ready to try a new approach and I am truly excited to do so here at Informa; to continue to work with the extraordinary teams and talent that make up this community, and to engage in the projects and opportunities that will continue to make this a best-in-class company,” McCurdy said. “I am also very excited to be passing on the CEO role to Patrick Martell, another member of the Informa community and one of its most experienced and effective leaders.”
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In an interview about his new role as a strategic advisor, McCurdy said he’s looking forward to finding a better work-life balance. “I’m looking forward to connecting with my wonderful family in a way that I haven’t been able to before,” he said.
The time and commitment it took to grow a $200 million company that McCurdy led into a $2 billion business is unimaginable. He shared with TSE some of the successes he’s achieved as CEO that he’s most proud of.
“We’ve been able to build a global exhibition business that now plays a very significant role in a dozen global trade verticals. The team that’s been built along the way is exceptional. And more recently, I’m really proud of the transition that’s taken place from being a market access provider to a market access provider,” he said. “We help suppliers find the right relationships with buyers, and buyers find the right relationships with suppliers on and off the show floor, through exhibitions, digital solutions and the use of data. All of this complements our role as a company that helps make trade markets more efficient.”
In a heartfelt note to his colleagues, McCurdy shared the news, highlighting the successes the company has achieved under his leadership. Additionally, he touched on the unprecedented challenges the trade show industry has faced over the past two years.
“We faced the pandemic together, head on. I have never been more proud of the resilience and adaptability of our colleagues. You supported each other and your customers, you learned, innovated, and kept your communities connected,” he wrote.
The future of conventions, trade shows and B2B events is embedded, and he continues in his letter: “Today, we are transforming from a global leader in live events to a true global market access provider. We are at the forefront of smart events, using data and technology to increase value for our clients on and off the show floor, and offering a growing range of digital services that help us do more for our clients and our own business at the speed of the market.”
Trade Fair Manager I had the opportunity to sit down with McCurdy, after World of Concrete paved the way for the return of other major trade shows, to talk about his 35-plus years of experience in the industry. Click here to read.
Martell takes over as CEO on January 1
Martell becomes CEO of Informa Markets on January 1, 2023. He joined Informa in 2014 and was closely involved in the integration of Penton Information Services in 2016. He also has deep experience and success in integrating an effective data discipline and investing in digital product development since leading Informa Intelligence.
McCurdy has worked closely with Martell over the past seven years. “We worked hand-in-hand through the acquisitions and integrations of Penton and UBM. I have tremendous respect for him as an effective and pragmatic leader. The way he has grown the intelligence business speaks volumes about his leadership effectiveness,” McCurdy said.
“I am very excited to lead Informa Markets beginning in 2023. Informa Markets has a leadership team with unmatched experience in its markets. The company is nearly back to full capacity for in-person events and is rapidly expanding its offerings to its clients in terms of technology, data services and digital markets. I look forward to making the most of all these opportunities and continuing to deliver exceptional value to the clients and communities that Informa Markets serves,” said Martell.
Contact Charlie McCurdy at [email protected]; Patrick Martell at [email protected]