AEO appoints dmg executive as new chair

The Association of Event Organizers has appointed a dmg executive as its new chairman.

New chair Rachel Swann will also work on building AEO’s core pillars and exploring their relevance to the association’s members.

The move is aimed at “future-proofing” the association for next-generation challenges and opportunities. Read more about it below.

Here are the top headlines for your weekly event news updates:

• AEO appoints dmg executive as new chair
• GL events H1 revenue jumps 19% to €820.6m
• Mash Media names new CEO
• UFI announces ‘Changes to Chances’ theme for 2024 global congress

The landscape of events is changing and your shows need future-proofing as well. Generative AI is a great way to do it – read our Primer on LLMs for events to get started.

Read on for your full Week in Events roundup ⤵️

AEO appoints dmg executive as new chair

AEO has named the current chief operating officer of the energy division at dmg events as its new chair.

The announcement about Rachel Swann came after a recent AEO board meeting, where Easyfairs CEO Alison Willis was also named vice chair.

Rachel said: “I am honoured to take on the role of AEO chair, following the excellent leadership of Matthew.

“I look forward to speaking to all the members to understand better what they need and how we can support them as an association.

“Our members’ experience and success are at the core of everything we do, and by working together with them we are stronger.”

Matthew Butler, the outgoing chair and group managing director of CloserStill Media, will transition to the role of past chair until September 2025.

He said: “It has been a pleasure to see the industry grow and develop, showcased by AEO’s increased member engagement and strategic initiatives.

“Over the last 18 months, we have sharpened our approach with a focus on financial resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity.

“I am proud of what we’ve achieved and confident that under Rachel’s leadership, this positive momentum will continue.”

Rachel’s chairmanship will focus on ‘Future Proofing the AEO for the next generation.’

Her strategy will aim to ensuring the organization’s continued relevance and value to its members.

In addition, she will look to build upon the AEO’s established pillars of Representation, Community, Talent and Insight, while exploring their significance to the membership.

The AEO has also welcomed four new industry professionals to its Board.

This move is part of the organization’s regular member rotation policy, designed to introduce fresh perspectives and expertise to the group.

These changes in the AEO’s governance structure are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the events industry, as the organization continues to adapt to evolving market needs and challenges.

GL events H1 revenue jumps 19% to €820.6m

GL events has reported an almost 20% increase in revenue for H1 2024.

A surge of 19% was recorded as the figure reached €820.6 million.

The company also raised its full-year growth target on the back of this positive momentum.

Key Highlights:

• Revenue soars: Revenue jumped 19% to €820.6m, driven by strong growth in the Live and Venues segments and a positive contribution from all operating regions.
• Profitability improves: EBITDA climbed 17% to €116m, demonstrating improved operational efficiency.
• Net profit jumps: Net profit attributable to shareholders surged 24%, reflecting the company’s strong earnings performance.
• Growth target raised: GL Events now expects full-year revenue growth of 9%, up from its previous forecast of 7%.

The company attributed its strong performance to several factors – including a high level of activity in France related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, robust growth in its core businesses, strategic investments and a favorable biennial effect.

Chairman-CEO of GL events Group Olivier Ginon said: “GL events’ strong growth momentum is continuing with revenue up 19% in the first half of 2024, driven by its strategy of combining the strengths of its three business divisions to provide an integrated offering: Live, Venues and Exhibitions.

“Building on the trend of previous years and highlighting the Group’s vitality, results thus improved in the period.

“The success of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games is the most striking example.”

He added: “The total value of the contracts signed for this event represents total revenue of €360m2 (Paris 2024, Coca-Cola, Sodexo, House of America, Ministry of the Armed Forces, etc.) with Group subcontractors receiving approximately €195m of this amount, 90% of which went to French companies.

“In this way, GL events has sought to ensure that as many industry stakeholders as possible were able to contribute to the success of these Olympic Games.”

Mash Media names new CEO

Mash Media unveiled its new CEO as part of “an exciting new chapter” for the group.

Liz Agostini takes on the position after a 15-year tenure where she has led each of the group’s portfolios, set out growth strategies across the company’s brands and steered it through the post-Covid recovery phase.

Julian Agostini, who has led the company as CEO, will transition to the role of chairman.

In this capacity, he will focus on expanding Mash Media’s charitable and CSR initiatives while also exploring potential acquisitions to strengthen the company’s position as the premier information hub for the events industry.

Julian said: “I’m so thankful to Liz for all the roles that she has taken on and nailed since joining me in the business 15 years ago.

“We have always worked side by side as a partnership but, honestly, Liz is more than capable of doing it on her own. I’m sure the industry always knew who the boss was anyway.”

Liz added: “We’re at the beginning of an exciting chapter in the Mash story and I feel privileged to be in a position to lead the extraordinary talent we have in the business to keep building on the last 29 years, keep evolving our offering and ensure that we continue to maintain our position as the go-to source of information and support for event professionals of every discipline.”

UFI announces ‘Changes to Chances’ theme for 2024 global congress

UFI has announced ‘Changes to Chances’ as its new theme for the upcoming 91st Global Congress.

The event will held at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany from November 20-23, 2024 and explore the dynamic shifts and emerging opportunities within the exhibition industry.

It will feature a lineup of industry experts and C-level speakers from both within and outside the exhibition world.

? Announcing the 91st UFI Global Congress theme: CHANGES TO CHANCES! ?

? Read the media release: https://t.co/4JVLWopcH9

?️ Join us this November at @Koelnmesse in Cologne: https://t.co/g4JUUmjX2k #ufi #uficongress #changes2chances #koelnmesse #networking #eventprofs pic.twitter.com/ilzE2uKC5b

— UFI (@UFILive) September 3, 2024

UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf said: “From geopolitics to new behavioural patterns, from climate to data regulations, the exhibition industry is facing a whirlwind of changes – impacting our business model, the value chain, and our customers’ needs and actions.

“To tackle these, we are turning this year’s UFI Global Congress into a gateway to understanding how these changes can be transformed into chances – into opportunities to innovate, grow, and thrive in a new, different landscape.”

Attendees can expect a diverse range of sessions, including short talks, interactive discussions as well as the popular ‘Global Exhibition Industry Board Meeting’ and ‘Strategy Power Hour.’

The congress will also have a dedicated session that shines a spotlight on the German market.

Book a free consultation with ExpoPlatform to understand how tech can help you nurture your event leads and accelerate the sales pipeline.