Informa’s Charlie McCurdy Talks M&A, UBM Integration and Trends for 2019

January 29, 2019
Charlie McCurdy

To say that last year was a monumental one for Informa Exhibitions, which is led by CEO Charlie McCurdy, would be quite an understatement.

2018 marked the largest mergers and acquisitions deal in history, with Informa buying fellow U.K.-based exhibition company, UBM, for a whopping $5.2 billion.

Now that the deal has been closed for several months, TSNN sat down with McCurdy to talk through what’s next and some overall exhibition market trends.

The Informa/UBM deal was completed in June, and McCurdy said there was an accelerated plan put in place immediately to integrate the two companies.

He added that the integration plan was successful, and “[we are going] into 2019 as the business we want to be, running it the way we want to run it.”

As far as activity in the past year of the overall M&A market in the exhibition industry, he said, “It would be hard to top 2018 and 2019 in transactions completed. It’s been a pretty hectic year, [but] there are probably a few more in the pipeline.”

Besides acquiring companies, McCurdy said another area of focus for Informa was growing organically in different areas worldwide.

“We’ve been very focused this year on expanding vertical markets or sectors in multinational, borderless markets,” he added.

McCurdy said one fast-growing area that they saw was in healthcare, especially in pharma and medical equipment. “[It’s] some of our biggest activity around the world,” he added, as well as the finished foods sector. “We’re quite excited about these areas.”

A lot of the company’s focus going forward as far as global areas, McCurdy said, would be in Asia and North America.

“We do see healthy growth represented in those two regions,” he added.

The trade show industry, and global economy, is not without its current challenges though, such as the trade war between the U.S. and China.

“It’s a very complicated set of circumstance,” McCurdy said of the dueling tariffs being imposed by each country. He added that right now, any possible negative impact on Informa’s business was being offset by positive exchange rates.

Looking into the future, Informa will continue to focus on finding and keeping valuable talent, McCurdy said.

“At Informa, we offer opportunities for personal and professional growth,” he added. “We help them find paths for advancement.”

McCurdy said another area of focus within the company was on digital.

“It’s something the industry has talked about for quite a few years now,” he added.

At Informa, McCurdy said there were two digital elements they were working on, the first being the delivery and adaption of digital tools to support sales, marketing, data management, etc. The second digital element was resources attendees can utilize for product services discovery.

Beyond M&A, organic growth, acquiring and maintaining talent, and managing their ever-growing digital tools, McCurdy hasn’t lost sight of the most important aspect of a global exhibition company overall: “Putting on an actual ‘show’ is the art of being a show organizer,” he said. “It’s beyond just selling concrete.”

 

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.