Informa Names Charles McCurdy Chief Executive; Reports 2015 First-half Revenue Increase of 8.6 Percent

July 29, 2015

U.K.-based Informa released its 2015 first-half revenue results today, and at the same time, announced Charles McCurdy would be brought on as the chief executive for the company’s Global Exhibitions division, replacing Will Morris, who is retiring at the end of the year.

"I'm really excited about joining Informa's Global Exhibitions business," McCurdy said. "It has a deeply talented organization and powerful shows that are performing well. I'm looking forward to joining the team!"

McCurdy most recently was CEO of George Little Management, and prior to this, he was CEO of Canon Communications.

In addition, he previously served as chairman of the Board of American Business Media and Summit Professional Networks and as a director of Cygnus Business Media and GlobalSpec. From 1989 to 2003, he was president of Primedia.

He also currently is chairman of the Society of Independent Show Organizers. 

Overall, Informa revenues rose 8.6 percent to £618.8 million ($965.3 million) driven by strong growth in the global exhibitions division, which brought in £168.8 million ($263 million) – a 38 percent increase - compared with £122.3 million ($190.8 million) in the first half of last year.

This year was the first one since Informa bought Hanley Wood Exhibitions in November 2014 for $375 million.

The deal added 17 construction and real estate events to Informa's portfolio, including World of Concrete and the International Roofing Expo.

This year, Informa added even more events in its US portfolio: Real Estate & Construction - Dwell, Pop Culture - Orlando Megacon and the US Beauty & Aesthetics Exhibition.

Several other events performed well in the first half of 2015 - Arab Health, Middle East Electricity, World of Concrete and China Beauty Expo.

Allowing for the absence of the quadrennial event IPEX and the planned movement of some exhibitions into the second half of 2015, including Cityscape Egypt and Seragrafia, the organic revenue growth was 6.4 percent.

As far as the future, Informa officials said: “Our decision to further internationalize and expand the business, with particular focus on building our presence in North America, where scale underpins industry-leading margins, is reaping rewards with both of the larger U.S. acquisitions made in 2014 performing at or ahead of plan. We continue to look for attractive opportunities, with a number of smaller additions already completed in 2015.”

Add new comment

Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.