WORLD – Mike Rusbridge, chairman of Reed Exhibitions, will step down at the end of 2015, after 27 years with the company.
Rusbridge joined Reed Exhibitions (RX) in 1988 as its chief executive of Europe, before becoming president of the business’s European and Asian operations in 1994. He was appointed chairman and chief executive in 1996.
“I find the events industry as exciting and stimulating today as I first found it 36 years ago,” Rusbridge said in a written statement today (22 June).
“I am very proud of what we have created and leave the company in the extremely capable hands of the CEO, Chet Burchett, who has worked for RX for the past 11 years in the Americas.
“There is strong continuity of management and we are now realising significant advantage from behaving as one company worldwide."
Rusbridge has overseen the publicly listed company’s expansion from a US$400m business to a $1.5bn company, which organises 500 events in 43 countries. Under his leadership, the business has made more than 150 acquisitions, including MIDEM in France as well as publisher and exhibition organiser Miller Freeman.
Erik Engstrom, chief executive of parent company RELX Group, paid tribute to Rusbridge’s work.
“Mike’s achievement at Reed Exhibitions has been outstanding,” Engstrom said. “Over the two decades he has led the company and built the world’s largest exhibitions business, delivering consistent growth over 20 years. I wish him well for the future.”
Rusbridge will continue to serve as chairman until December 2015.
This story has been corrected
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