Atlanta, Ga. – Ken McAvoy has joined Informa Exhibitions in the U.S. this Fall as a senior executive and will play a role in show operations and, potentially, acquisitions.
McAvoy is based in the Atlanta area and now holds the title of Executive Vice President-Corporate Development.
McAvoy’s job description touches on several different aspects of show organization from venue selection to housing and supplier negotiations. He is also on the lookout for potential acquisitions.
Informa moved into the U.S. market in a big way in 2014 when it acquired Hanley Wood Exhibitions and Virgo. Last year, the British company hired veteran U.S. show organizer Charles McCurdy, a former chairman of the Society of Independent Show Organizers, as CEO of Informa’s Global Exhibitions division.
Informa’s U.S. chain of command includes John Siefert, former CEO of Virgo and now President of Informa Exhibitions U.S.. Former Hanley Wood Exhibitions President Rick McConnell is President of Informa U.S., Construction & Real Estate.
McAvoy joined Informa after two years as a private consultant. He had hung up his shingle in 2014 after stepping down from Reed Exhibitions, where he spent nearly 15 years as Senior Vice President. While with Reed, McAvoy was a leader of the Friends of Javits, the source of the exhibition industry’s input into the expansion and renovation of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
Prior to his stint at Reed, McAvoy was Vice President of Client Relations for Global Experience Specialists. He was featured on the June 2009 cover of Trade Show Executive.
Reach Ken McAvoy at (770) 205-8448 or ken.mcavoy@informa.com
