Stamford, CT – Margaret Pederson, president of Penton Exhibitions Group, announced today that she will be leaving the organization to explore new opportunities. She has agreed to stay on through April to transition the business. Pederson, who becomes Chairman of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) in December 2008, entered the exposition industry 25 years ago as Director of Planning for Cahners Exposition Group (now Reed Exhibitions).
During Pederson’s eight years with the companies that eventually merged with Penton, she grew both revenue and EBITDA, launched new shows, forged strategic alliances and implemented processes to increase efficiency.
Pederson’s career in the exposition industry began in 1983 when she was hired as director of planning for Cahners Exposition Group (now Reed Exhibitions) by the late Robert Krakoff, who was president of CEG. During her 16-year tenure, she rose in the ranks to senior vice president of CEG, directing the company’s sizable portfolio of manufacturing, food, retail and other exhibitions, as well as its Canadian and consumer events. In November 1999, she became president of Intertec (which was acquired by Primedia, then later became Prism and was recently merged with Penton). She served in a comparable position in each of the successor companies.
She has been the Chair of SISO (the Society of Independent Show Organizers) and is the Chair-Elect of IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events) – and thus will become the only person to hold both prestigious positions.
“My time with Penton has been both fulfilling and challenging. I will miss my colleagues, partners and customers,” Pederson told Trade Show Executive. “Exhibitions are an addictive business. I will remain involved while transitioning the business and then through my ongoing involvement with IAEE.”
Pedersen is considered one of the most influential people in the trade show industry. She presently serves on Trade Show Executive’s Exposition Forecasting Board and will continue in that role during 2008.
Penton Media, Inc. and Prism Business Media Holdings, Inc. merged on February 1 in a $530 million deal. That transaction created one of the largest B-to-B media companies in the U.S. — totaling 113 trade magazines and 96 trade shows and conferences such as Waste Expo and the Natural Products Expo group of shows.
The private equity firms Wasserstein & Co. and MidOcean Partners each own 50% percent of the combined companies, which operate under the Penton brand with headquarters in New York. John French, who had been in charge of Prism since October 2005, is CEO of the combined companies.
Reach Margaret at (800) 559-0620 x84701 or margaret.pederson@penton.com
