RX CEO appointed new UFI President

UFI has appointed RX CEO Hugh Jones as its new president for the incoming year.

He will work with the current and outgoing presidents to ensure the exhibition association remains at the forefront of supporting and promoting the industry around the world.

Other news items of the week:

???Informa improves its annual profit and revenue outlook

?? dmg events launches a new water exhibition to support Saudi Arabia’s water sector

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RX CEO Hugh Jones elected UFI president for 2024-25 ??

The UFI board has elected a new incoming president for 2024-25.

This decision will come into force at the 90th UFI Global Congress later in November at Las Vegas.

RX CEO Hugh Jones will take over as president in the next edition of the congress, which will be held in Cologne, Germany in November 2024.

He said: “I am delighted and honoured to be joining the UFI presidential trio team this November.?It’s a really exciting time for the exhibitions industry, with so much innovation in all corners of the world and UFI has a front-row seat to it all.

“I can’t wait to get started and to support the team as we make the magic happen.”

Hugh joined RX as CEO in 2020-start and prior to this, worked in leadership positions at Acuity (RELX Group), Fircosoft, NRS, I.C.I.S, Estates Gazette and Cirium.

He will work with the president dmg CEO Geoff Dickinson and outgoing president Michael Duck, EVP at Informa Markets to work on UFI’s mission to promote and support the global exhibitions industry.

Michael, UFI’s current president, said: “Hugh Jones brings with him a wonderful perspective on our business on a global scale. He has excellent feel as to market sentiment and I am 100% sure he will bring many new ideas especially in digital in the years to come. RX is one of the world’s most important exhibition companies.”

Informa raises profit and revenue outlook ??

Informa has improved its annual profit and revenue forecast, according to company figures.

The UK-based organiser raised its adjusted operating profit for the year ending December 31 by?10%?to between?￡750 million and ￡790m.

Revenue also stands?7% higher?than the previous forecast at?￡2.95 billion to ￡3.05bn.

Stephen A. Carter, group chief executive, said: “The Informa group is delivering accelerating growth in revenues, profits, earnings and cashflows, with a strong balance sheet and increasing shareholder returns.

“This enables us to increase our guidance for 2023 and create further opportunities for growth and acceleration in 2024 and beyond.”

The improved outlook comes on the back of strong growth in its academic (+3.0%) and B2B businesses (+31.2%) as well as new portfolio additions.

All three B2B business reported solid growth – Informa Markets (+43.5%), Informa Connect (+19.2%) and Informa Tech (+8.3%).

According to Informa, its key market China is returning strongly after pandemic restrictions were lifted in March.

The two recent acquisitions – Tarsus and Winsight – were also trading strongly.

dmg events launches Saudi Water Expo ??

International organiser dmg events will launch the first exhibition in Saudi Arabia dedicated to its water industry.

The Saudi Water Expo will go live from September 11 to 13 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

It will be hosted along with the Saudi Infrastructure Expo – the country’s sole trade event for the infrastructure industry.

Matt Denton, president at dmg events, said: “Saudi Arabia’s relentless pursuit of water security has created a fertile ground for growth and innovation in the industry.

“The launch of the Saudi Water Expo in September 2023, as a one-of-its-kind show in the Kingdom and co-located with Saudi Infrastructure Expo, presents opportunities for local, regional and international companies to share new technologies, innovation and products and services.”

The show will support the Saudi government’s plan for $80bn worth of water projects as per its national water strategy under Vision 2030.

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