Episode description

In this episode, we had a conversation with Gareth Bowhill about his experience leading CloserStill Media, a UK-based B2B media company that produces 80 exhibitions annually, as its CEO since 2020. After coming off a record year of revenues of $120 million in 2022, he talked about how the company has closed three acquisitions so far this year (with more in the pipeline), growing to 600 employees globally.

CloserStill’s expansion into the U.S. market began in 2017 with the organic launch of New York Vet, a geo-clone of its flagship event London Vet Show. Led by former RX exec Yancy Weinrich, who serves as the company’s North America president, has grown rapidly in the last two years to 100 employees. Find out why the U.S. market is currently his No. 1 priority. 

We talked about:

• How the company emerged bigger and better post pandemic with a record year of trading in 2022 and expectations to beat that in 2023 

• How the three acquisitions in 2023 (so far) have impacted the business and their prospects for growth

• Insights into the M&A landscape right now (active

• How the company’s private equity ownership by Providence since 2018 has supported its growth

• Challenges right now: talent and economic uncertainty

• And so much more!

Podcast host Danica Tormohlen also shared the top five new stories from Trade Show News Network, Exhibit News Now and Corporate Event News that were published in the first half of August 2023.

Our guest

Bowhill is CEO of  CloserStill Media. He joined the company as CFO  in November 2019 before being promoted to CEO in may 2020. 

Prior to that, he served as Head of M&A and Group Treasurer at Chime Communications Limited for 3 years from 2016 to 2019. 

He’s also worked at CSM Sport & Entertainment as International Group Finance Director and Director of Strategy and Corporate Development for a little over 2 years.

Here’s a backgrounder on Bowhill on CloserStill’s site.

Get his full bio and connect with him on LinkedIn here.

Thank you to our sponsor!

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Trade Show News Network is excited to share our ‘Trade Show Talk’ podcast which features two episodes each month focusing on hot-button topics. Each episode kicks off with a news round up before host Danica Tormohlen leads discussions with trade show and events industry leaders. If you'd like to be a guest or you have a topic to suggest that we cover, please let us know by emailing podcast@tsnn.com. If you would like to sponsor a podcast series, please contact jrice@tsnn.com 

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