Patrick Martell to Take the Helm of Informa Markets Next Year
July 19, 2022
Leading B2B exhibitions and market access business, Informa Markets, has appointed a new CEO. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, Patrick Martell, current CEO of Informa Intelligence and COO of Informa Group, will take the reigns as the company’s chief executive while continuing his role as Group COO. He will replace current CEO Charlie McCurdy, who joined Informa in 2015 and will move into a new role as strategic advisor to Informa Group in 2023.
Since joining Informa in 2014, Martell has acquired significant knowledge of the business, including a heavy involvement in the integration of Penton Information Services in 2016. He also has gained deep experience in successfully embedding effective data discipline and investing in digital product development from his time leading Informa Intelligence.
Martell’s digital and data experience, paired with extensive exhibitions industry experience across the Informa Markets leadership team, will help build on that momentum, thus driving greater value for the communities and customers the organization serves, according to Informa Markets officials.
“I am greatly looking forward to the opportunity to lead Informa Markets from 2023,” Martell said. “Informa Markets has a leadership team with unparalleled experience in their markets. The business is nearly back to full strength on in-person events and rapidly expanding what it offers customers in terms of technology, data services and digital marketplaces.”
He added, “I’m looking forward to making the most of all of these opportunities and continuing to deliver exceptional value for the customers and communities Informa Markets serves.”
A renowned leader in the exhibitions industry who spent 35 years leading B2B events and media businesses, including the last seven as Informa Markets CEO, McCurdy has overseen the company through its acquisition of Penton Information Services, the YPI boat show business and the landmark UBM acquisition. He also led the exhibition business through the pandemic, helping to identify new digital solutions and emerging data opportunities while building the company back to strength throughout 2021 and into 2022.
McCurdy will remain CEO through the rest of 2022 before beginning his new role in January as the company’s strategic advisor. In this role, he will continue to support Informa Markets’ digital and data services development, as well as providing broader input and support on key partnership relationships and future growth opportunities through the period of Informa’s 2021-2024 Growth Acceleration Plan II.
“When I joined Informa Markets seven years ago, I had confidence that we could transform the business from a great regional exhibitions business to a world-leading one," McCurdy said. “I truly believe that we have done that and more, transforming from a world-leading exhibitions business to a true global market-access provider. We are delivering greater value for our customers on and off the show floor, and the business is in a fantastic position, with so much opportunity on the horizon.”
MCCurdy added that his time leading the Informa Markets business has been second-to-none, but he is ready to try a new approach.
"I'm really pleased that I am able to do that here at Informa, continuing to work with the amazing teams and talent that make up this community and engaged in the projects and opportunities that will continue to make this a best-in-class business," he said. "I am also truly pleased that I am handing the CEO role over to Patrick Martell, another member of the Informa community and one of its most experienced and effective leaders.”
McCurdy added that Informa Markets has witnessed a healthy return to in-person events through the first half of 2022, a trend it expects to continue. With that in mind, the business will be reinforcing its commitment to geographic and market expansion by deepening its partnerships with BolognaFiere Group in the beauty and personal care market, and further expanding into the Middle East—a key growth region for the business.
Additionally, as it continues to develop more efficient and effective ways for communities to connect on and off the show floor, Informa Markets has been investing in building out its product team and hiring new transformation leadership, including Chief Transformation Officer Trevor Attridge, who joined the company in May.
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