Sally Shankland Named Emerald Expositions’ President and CEO
May 13, 2019
Emerald Expositions' board of directors appointed Sally Shankland as president and CEO of the company.
Shankland will assume her new role on June 1 and will remain a member of the company’s board.
Phil Evans, Emerald’s Interim president and CEO, who was appointed when long-time leader David Loechner stepped down, will continue to serve as the company’s CFO.
”Sally’s experience, skills and approach are a perfect match with the Board’s requirements for the Emerald CEO position; and, after conducting a thorough search over the last seven months, I am thrilled to have her accept the position,” said Kosty Gilis, chairman of Emerald Expositions.
He added, “Sally has achieved remarkable success in her career by bringing inspirational leadership, purposeful strategies and strong execution skills to businesses with unmet potential. The Board and I have been particularly impressed by her success in driving growth and capturing new opportunities by harnessing data, technology, and a strong and persistent focus on customer satisfaction.”
Shankland brings more than 35 years of experience, including a tenure of 20+ years with UBM, now part of Informa plc, a U.K.-based multinational events, academic publishing and business intelligence business.
Shankland’s most recent position at UBM was CEO of the Americas, delivering events and marketing services in the technology, fashion, licensing, advanced manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries.
Shankland currently is a principal and founder of Astra Terra, a strategic advisory and consulting firm.
In 2018, she served as Interim Executive at Healthline.com, the fastest-growing health information site globally.
Previously, Shankland served two years as president of McGraw-Hill Higher Education, helping it to transition from a print-based model towards adaptive learning software.
“I recently joined the Emerald Board as a non-executive director and quickly realized that I could apply my leadership principles, experience and skills to improve the Company’s financial performance and growth prospects,” Shankland said.
She added, "Emerald owns some great assets that are extremely relevant in their markets and, I believe, have significant opportunity available to them. I'm very excited about the opportunity to lead the business.”
Gillis said, “On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank Phil for assuming the role of Interim president and CEO for the last seven months in addition to his role as Emerald’s CFO. Phil’s experience and deep knowledge of the Company allowed the Board to be thoughtful and take the necessary time to find the right leader who we believe can unlock the vast potential that we see in Emerald.”
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.
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