The move comes in the wake of Impressions’ former parent company Emerald Expo joining forces with trade-show company Questex
Impressions magazine and Impressions Expo have a new parent company, Forge, a product of the recent merger between the Impressions brand’s former parent company, Emerald, and fellow media/trade show company Questex LLC.
The company says it is positioning itself to serve as a leading global B2B events and media company serving customers through live events, digital media, data and year-round communities. The move follows Apollo-managed funds’ acquisition of the two companies this past July.
According to the new company, Forge brings together Emerald’s scaled portfolio of trade shows, conferences and commerce-driven solutions with Questex’s differentiated events, media brands and 365-day digital engagement model.
Following the announcement, company officials are emphasizing no changes are planned for either Impressions magazine or the upcoming Impressions Expos scheduled to take place in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 21-23, Long Beach, California, Jan. 21-23 or Atlantic City, New Jersey, March 17-20.
“There’s a lot of excitement around Forge and what bringing these two organizations together can create. At the same time, for the Impressions community, it’s very much business as usual. We remain focused on delivering great events, creating meaningful connections and continuing to grow alongside the industry,” says Impressions Expo Show Director, Kayla McGarry.
“Today marks the beginning of Forge, a company built on the strengths of Emerald and Questex,” says Forge CEO, Paul Miller. “Together we are now the largest B2B events and media company in North America, and one of the largest in the world. We’re helping customers see what is ahead and connect with the people who matter most to them, backed by the data, talent and scale to deliver measurable value year-round. Under Apollo Funds’ ownership, we will keep investing in our products, our people and the markets we serve. That’s what it means to move markets.”
Along with Miller and representatives of Apollo Funds, the Forge’s board of directors includes:
- Andy Bird, former President of Walt Disney International and former CEO of Pearson
- Lara Boro, former CEO of The Economist Group and former CEO of Informa Intelligence
- Simon Kimble, former CEO and Executive Chairman of Clarion Events
Moving forward, the company says under the ownership of Apollo Funds, Forge will continue investing in its people, products and technology to extend customer engagement beyond the event itself. The Forge brand will begin rolling out across events, websites and customer touch points over the coming weeks and months. To learn more, visit forgelive.com.
