Informa plc announced Tuesday that it has begun the process of replacing Derek Mapp, chairman of the London-based B2B publisher and exhibitions giant since 2008, with a successor expected to be installed by the end of the year.
Mapp first joined Informa’s board as a non-executive director in 2004—entering through the company’s merger with academic publisher Taylor & Francis—and rose to chairman four years later. The latter half of his term as chair has been marked by a series of major expansions since Stephen Carter was named CEO in 2013, including a $375 million acquisition of U.S. publisher Hanley Wood’s exhibitions business in 2014 and a $1.56 billion merger with Penton in 2016.
Tuesday’s announcement (which can be read below) notes that Mapp’s 12-year term as chair will end as Informa concludes the integration of its most recent acquisition, UBM, which it bought for more than $5 billion in early 2018. Last year, the company sold UBM’s life sciences portfolio to U.S.-based MJH Associates for $100 million, then ended 2019 by offloading several former Penton titles in separate transactions, executing what it has called its “progressive portfolio management” plan in updates to investors.
In an email, an Informa rep called Mapp’s departure “a planned stepping down and transition that will follow a steady process from here.”
Mapp also currently serves as chairman of Mitie, a facilities management outsourcing firm, and Imagesound, a privately-held company that provides background music for retail stores and restaurants.
Informa PLC Press Release
7 January 2020
Board Update
Chairman Succession Plan
London: Informa (LSE: INF.L), the International Exhibitions, Events, Information Services and Advanced Learning Group, today announces that it has started a process to identify a successor for its current Chairman, Derek Mapp. This follows the continuing growth and expansion of Informa, including the successful acquisition and integration of UBM into the Group.
The succession process is being led by the Group’s Senior Independent Director, on behalf of the Nominations Committee, with external advice being provided by Spencer Stuart. The new Chairman is expected to be in place by the end of 2020, following a suitable handover period.
