Montgomery Group

Happy International Women’s Day! ?? Today, we celebrate the incredible women at Montgomery Group and across the exhibition industry. We are fortunate to have a powerhouse of talented, driven, and inspiring women shaping our success every day. Here's to recognising their achievements, championing gender equality, and continuing to create opportunities for all. #IWD2025

?? Alumni Spotlight ?? We caught up with Alison Jackson, Group MD and Co-Founder of Nineteen Group who reflected on her journey with Montgomery, starting in 1990 as a graduate and working her way up to become the first MD of Freshrm. She shared how the support and opportunities at Montgomery shaped her career, and how the company’s trust and guidance were truly lifechanging. ? When did you work at Montgomery? I started working at Montgomery around 1990. It was my first job after university, and I had worked in France at an exhibition company on my year out and applied for a graduate role. I left in 2001. ? What role did you start in, and how did your career progress? I was super lucky. I started selling advertisements in exhibition catalogues then progressed to stands. I did the CIM Marketing Diploma in my own time and did a stint in marketing before realising I would make more money in sales! Eventually I worked my way up the food and drink division to Group Event Director, then became the first MD of Freshrm, the JV with Reed Exhibitions and was a board director which gave me an overview of the other divisions within the group. ? How did your experience here shape your career? I loved my time at Montgomery. Their support and openness to promoting young talent and agility effectively catapulted my career and would not have happened if I had not worked there. I cried when I resigned and only left because I felt I had gone as far as I could, and I was head hunted by IIR. The all-round nature of learning how to produce quality international events that I received at Montgomery prepared me for a decade at EMAP and all my future moves. ? What is a standout memory from your time here? As well as forming many lifelong friendships, the standout memory is being asked to become the MD of Freshrm, a JV with Reed Exhibitions by both companies and being appointed onto a couple of boards. Whilst in hindsight I was green and had no idea what I was doing, the business had my back, particularly the Angus family, Christopher Newton, Janet Soar and Michael Berger. ?I remain massively grateful for their trust and belief in me and still describe it as the absolute best training group in events. ? If you could describe your time at the company in three words, what would they be? A lifechanging catalyst ?

?? Ethically Commercial ?? At Montgomery Group, we’re driven by our four core values. Today, we highlight our commitment to balancing purpose and profit with an ethically commercial approach. We have ambition and a will to succeed, not just for ourselves but for our clients and partners too. However, success for us is never at any cost. Our decisions are guided by respect, honesty and a deep commitment to making a positive impact. We believe in achieving sustainable growth while maintaining ethical standards that benefit the communities and environments we serve. Success is about more than profitability, it is about doing what is right.

Celebrating 130 Years of Collaboration! ?? Over the years, we’ve partnered with incredible companies, past and present. We chatted with Caroline Kenyon, Founder/Director, The Food Awards Partner. She takes us through her current partnership with Montgomery Group. ??How long have you?joint ventured?/?partnered with our company? Our partnership agreement with Montgomery Group was completed by lawyers at 3pm on the Friday before the?first lockdown came in on the Monday in March 2020. It felt very good to be part of a wider group at such a turbulent time. ? ??Which shows do you run with us? Our speciality is food awards and our flagship event is the World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tendertem?Bimi?Broccolini exhibition at the Mall Galleries, just near Buckingham Palace, 21-25 May this year.? ? ??What initially drew you to work with us?? A mutual friend introduced Damion Angus, Chair of Montgomery Group, and me by email - Damion meet?Caroline,?Caroline?meet Damion, you both have food and photography in common.? ? ??How has our partnership supported your goals?? It’s wonderful as a very small team - a core of 7 day to day - to feel part of such a warm, friendly and professional group, with the same international outlook. I and my colleagues feel very supported and coming into Manchester Square feels extremely welcoming? ? ??What do you enjoy most about working with us?? That you all value fun, friendship and doing things properly ie ethically as well as doing successful business.?

?? Employee Spotlight ?? As we celebrate 130 years of success, we’re proud to spotlight the incredible employees who have contributed to our journey both past and present. Meet Gary Corin, Managing Director at Specialised Exhibitions, celebrating nearly 29 years with Montgomery Group! He shares a big career highlight and how Montgomery Group has helped shape his career, fuelling passion and growth. ???? ? ?? How long have you been with the company? On 1 March 2025 I have been with Montgomery for 29 years ?? What inspired you to join the company? In 1994 I visited Electra Mining Africa as an industrial sales representative. The exhibition was mind-blowing! I had studied marketing as an undergraduate. ?After nearly 2 years of persistent courting the SEM leadership, I was blessed enough to be afforded the opportunity of a lifetime. ?? What’s a memorable project you’ve worked on? A memorable week of projects occurred around July 2015. In that week we organised Markex (promo-gift show) in Sandton Joburg; Frigair (air-conditioning and refrigeration show) at Gallagher Estate Joburg and Caminex (industrial, mining and agricultural show) in Kitwe Zambia. The uniqueness of this week was SEM’s ability to successfully deliver 3 different events, in different industry sectors in 2 different countries simultaneously. A standout moment for me was welcoming Damion Angus on site in Kitwe. To further underscore our ability as a Group, he had just flown out from London after completing Hotelympia. On arrival at the Zambian showgrounds, Damion did enquire if the roaming poultry was an official part of the show? Incidentally – it was!! What a memorable week of exhibitions! ??How has the company supported your professional growth? Montgomery has facilitated my professional growth by supporting activities like postgraduate studies. This evolved into lecturing and facilitating others’ learning efforts in the fields of business management, marketing and event management. Through our extensive international agency network, I have also been privileged to attend some top global exhibitions in the industry sectors SEM serves. ??What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received at work? In 2010 Sandy Angus shared with me an invaluable leadership insight. Successful leadership requires one motivate people to follow you over the mountain – not chase them over it. This art and discipline is fluid and takes a lifetime of learning and adaption to achieve.

?? Big wins for Specialised Exhibitions at the EXSA Awards! ?? We’re proud to share that Electra Mining Africa took home several prestigious awards, recognising excellence in the exhibition industry: ? Best Large Event: Electra Mining Africa 2024 ? Best Organiser: Specialised Exhibitions ? Association Award: Electra Mining Africa 2024 ? Best Overall Event: Electra Mining Africa 2024 ? Hall of Fame: Emmanuel Patty Bring on 2025! ??? #EXSAAwards #ElectraMiningAfrica #SpecialisedExhibitions #ExcellenceInExhibitions #AwardWinning

?? Alumni Spotlight ?? At Montgomery Group, our community of people has always been at the core of our success. As we commemorate 130 years of achievements, we’re honoured to celebrate the remarkable individuals who have shaped our journey, both past and present. We caught up with Easyfairs Group CEO, Matthew Benyon, former Managing Director of Montgomery International and OTSA as he reflected on his 12 years at Montgomery Group. ?? When did you work at Montgomery? I joined in Feb 1996 and left with a heavy heart in 2008 ?? What role did you start in, and how did your career progress? I started as a sales executive in the agency division, OTSA, working for John Gorton who to this day I credit with opening the door for me in events and who trained me and taught me so much. He now lives in Australia but he was an amazing first boss. I then became a manager and within 3-4 years became the MD of OTSA when John left the company. At some stage soon thereafter Sandy Angus, who I hold in incredibly high regard (as does the whole industry) and who for me has been a fantastic father like figure and mentor throughout my whole career, came to me and simply asked if I would like to launch some event in India and set up an office there. Well who wouldn’t want to do that! I then launched events in Poland, Hungary and Russia and in due course I became a Board Director of Specialised Exhibitions in SA also. I joined Easyfairs in 2009 and it’s a company which shares a lot of the same values as Montgomery. It was always going to take a great company for me to leave Montgomery and whilst I was more than sad to leave Montgomery, I found a new family in Easyfairs. ?? How did your experience here shape your career? Montgomery was a great company to give you opportunities that perhaps other companies at that time would not have given you and at a very young age. It was an early adopter of the ‘it’s OK to fail’ approach and this meant you were given fantastic opportunities to try new things and to have a lot of fun along the way. It taught me how to be good at sales, how to run great events, how to travel and have a lot of fun along the way. It taught me how to make some lifelong friendships, it taught me about community, it taught me to be humble, it taught me so so much. It taught me to look up to others and to learn from others. Montgomery has created some fantastic people in the industry today and people like Alison Jackson, Andrew Evans, John Gorton, Sandy Angus of course and Damion have all made an enormous impact on my learnings and my career overall. ?? What's a standout memory from your time here? This is almost impossible to answer, 12 years and a lot of amazing memories. I mean there are honestly so many funny stories but probably my favourite was racing Mel Shah across Mumbai and also Delhi in our tuk-tuks. ?? ?? If you could describe your time at the company in three words, what would they be? FAMILY, FUN, OPPORTUNITY

Exciting news at Montgomery Group! We’re delighted to announce that Sanjeev Khaira has joined us as Chief Growth Officer ??

?? A Huge Congratulations to Renoshka Gomendes & HYDIE MALAN ?? We’re thrilled to announce Renoshka (OTSA) and Hydie (Specialised Exhibitions) as our quarterly winners of the Monty Recognition Scheme! This initiative celebrates employees who go the extra mile for their teams and events and these two have truly exemplified that spirit. To show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication, Renoshka and Hydie will enjoy an extra day of holiday and a voucher for a well-earned dinner. ????? Thank you both for your outstanding contributions ??

From our humble beginnings in 1895 right here in Manchester Square, Montgomery Group has morphed and adapted immensely over 130 years. Raising our new flag marks another chapter in our journey. ???? #CelebratingExcellence #MontgomeryGroup130 #130YearsStrong #LegacyAndVision #CelebratingExcellence #EventsProfs #LiveEvents #EventsProfsuk #Events #Exhibitions