Los Angeles, CA – Kevin O’Keefe has been named vice president of the Events Division at Canon Communications following the resignation of Diane O’Connor, whom Canon said resigned to pursue other interests. O’Keefe joined Canon in 1995 as trade show sales manager and played a major role in development of Canon’s co-location strategy and the launch of the PLASTEC and MEDTEC events.
Charles McCurdy, chairman of Canon and Apprise Media, said O’Keefe’s new position would focus on expanding Canon’s presence in technology-manufacturing trade shows, including show assets to be acquired from Reed Elsevier. Apprise Media acquired Canon last year from Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Canon recently agreed to acquire eight trade shows from Reed — Assembly Technology Expo, AM Southeast, National Manufacturing Week, International Powder & Bulk Solids, Powder & Bulk Solids Southeast, Quality Expo, Quality Detroit, and Nepcon/Electonics East.
O’Connor said she expected to remain in the trade show arena and was looking at potential new ventures. “I have been watching various segments of the high-tech sector and I have seen some opportunities.” O’Connor is the second senior executive to resign recently. In February, Canon CEO William Cobert left after 27 years with the company.
Contact Kevin at (310) 445-4200, or Kevin.okeefe@cancom.com. Reach Diane at (310) 445-4200 or diane.oconnor@canoncom.com; Reach Charles McCurdy at (212) 751-3182.
