The Dan Assor Show #eventprofs

In this exclusive interview, I sit down with Phil Soar just days after the announcement of the major deal involving CloserStill Media, Searchlight Capital Partners and Providence Equity Partners. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the global exhibitions industry, Phil shares the story behind the transaction, the growth of CloserStill from a start-up on a pig farm to a report...

In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Cockerton , Co-Founder of the Digital Accountancy Show, to explore his journey from a media and fintech background to building one of the UK’s fastest-growing niche events for the accountancy sector. We discuss how Daniel and his business partner James Howell identified a market gap, grew the show from 600 attendees to over 5,000, and recently sold the busin...

In this episode, I sit down with Dodge Woodall, the mastermind behind Bournemouth 7s Festival, host of the Eventful Lives podcast, and a serial entrepreneur. From selling nightclub tickets as a 10-year-old to building one of the UK's most successful independent festivals, Dodge shares his raw, unfiltered journey of risk-taking, resilience, and relentless ambition. He shares the highs, lows, an...

Dive into an insightful conversation with Hugh Jones, CEO of RX, as he unveils his journey through the dynamic world of trade shows and exhibitions. From his unexpected start managing gas stations to leading one of the largest B2B event organisers globally, this episode highlights Hugh’s leadership in transforming RX, and his unique perspective on the challenges and innovations shaping the industr...

In this episode, I sit down with Eman Pulis, the visionary founder of the SiGMA Group, a global media and events company focused on the gaming and emerging technology sectors. Since its inception in 2014, SiGMA has rapidly evolved from a small, niche event to a global powerhouse. The brand redefined itself through rebranding initiatives, strategic acquisitions, and the establishment of new pillars...

Join me as I sit down with Yancy Weinrich, President of North America & Board Director at CloserStill Media, to uncover her remarkable journey in the trade show and exhibition industry. From her early days as an exhibitor to leading one of the fastest-growing event companies globally, Yancy shares insights into leadership, innovation, and the future of events. In this episode, we discuss: ✅ H...

In this special year-end episode, I sit down with Peter Jones, CEO of Nineteen Group, one of the UKs fastest growing B2B event organisers,  to reflect on a ground breaking year for the business and explore what lies ahead for 2025 in the trade show and exhibitions industry. Peter delves into the key milestones of 2024, including Nineteen Group’s acquisition of Oliver Kinross and the transformative...

Duncan Reid’s journey in the events industry is nothing short of extraordinary. From organising house parties as a teenager to nearly 25 years at global giants UBM and Clarion Events, Duncan has been a force in reshaping how events are conceived and delivered. Recorded on the show floor at Event Tech Live 2024 in London ExCel, this episode dives into his career, the pivotal lessons he’s learned, a...

Join me for an insightful conversation with Enrico Gallorini, CEO of GRS Research and Strategy, as he shares his journey in the events industry and discusses his new book, In-Person: A Journey Through the Unstoppable Evolution of Events. Enrico reflects on the history of gatherings, the impact of culture on events, and the future of in-person connections in a digital age. Discover how his upbringi...

In this episode, I welcome Doug Emslie, former CEO of Tarsus Group, and current chairman of Cuil Bay capital and Raccoon Media Group. Doug shares insights into his recent investment in Jacobs Media, a leader in travel media and events, to support its expansion into global markets, particularly the Middle East and U.S, and the launch of an animal health division at Raccoon Media, highlighting the g...

Join me in this insightful episode as I sit down with Geoff Dickinson, CEO of DMG Events, to explore his incredible career journey, from humble beginnings and studying law to becoming one of the most influential leaders in the global events industry. In this candid interview Geoff talks about his his background, and the fact that he wasn't worried about taking risks because he grew up with limited...

In this episode, I sit down with Kate Disley, founder and CEO of TEMBO, a specialist marketing agency for event organisers, to explore her incredible entrepreneurial journey. Kate shares how a simple misunderstanding launched her into the world of exhibitions and events, turning an unexpected twist into a thriving business. We dive into the challenges she faced as a single mum navigating the corpo...

In this episode, I sit down with Rick Stainton, the visionary founder of The Smyle Group, one of the world’s leading creative creative agencies delivering live and digital brand experiences globally. Rick shares his inspiring 20-year entrepreneurial journey, from the early days of launching Smyle with a bold vision, to growing it into a global powerhouse serving the world’s biggest brands. Hear Ri...

In this episode, I sit down with Ross Ashman, co-founder and CEO of Public Sector Network, a multi-million dollar social learning platform based out of Australia, created to improve the life of public sector employees - and the citizens they serve. Ross takes us on a journey through his entrepreneurial experience. From his beginnings as an event sales executive to co-founding one of the leading pl...

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Westcott, Co-Founder and Board Director of Global Trade Show & Exhibition Organiser CloserStill Media and Co-Chair of Torquay United Football Club in the UK. Michael shares his inspiring journey from a budding journalist to a key player in the global events industry. Discover how Michael’s early passion for journalism led him to Asia, where he transitio...

Welcome to the latest episode of The Dan Assor Show where I chat with Greg Hitchen, CEO of Terrapinn, a global trade show and conference organiser. In this episode, Greg shares insights into Terrapin's impressive growth trajectory, with revenues skyrocketing from $68 million in 2019 to an expected $143 million in 2024. We delve into the strategies that fuelled this success, including the expan...

Welcome to another episode of The Dan Assor Show. In this episode, we sit down with Kelvin Newman, the mastermind behind brightonSEO, the world's largest search marketing conference & Trade Show. Kelvin shares his incredible journey from a small meetup in a pub in Brighton, England, to organising events in the UK and US attended by thousands of digital marketers from over 50 countries. Joi...

Welcome to the latest episode featuring Neil Felton, CEO of FESPA, a global federation of national trade associations and organiser of exhibitions and conferences for the screen, digital and textile printing industry. In this insightful conversation, Neil shares the fascinating journey of FESPA, from its humble beginnings above a sandwich shop to becoming a global powerhouse representing 37 nation...

For the latest episode of The Dan Assor Show podcast for eventprofs, I interviewed Jessica Webber, the Global Head of Bloomberg Live Experiences. The conversation is a dive deep into the world of event management, community building, and the future of live events. Key Highlights: Creating Memorable Experiences: Jessica shared her unique journey from acting to event management and her passion for c...

Ray Rhodes, the Head of Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) at RX, shares his journey from personal struggles as part of the LGBTQI+ community in a conservative setting to spearheading global I&D initiatives. Through the establishment of employee resource groups and a focus on psychological safety, Ray illustrates the significant cultural transformation within RX, emphasizing inclusive practices...

My guest for this episode is Amy Baker CEO and Co-founder of The PIE, a media, recruitment and events business created to inform, inspire and connect a global community of leaders in international education, edtech and global language learning.  The PIE’s flagship news website reached one million users in 2023 and Amy is a regular commentator and host of events focused on the industry’s latest dev...

For almost 2 decades, Trixie LohMirmand has been at the helm of the UAEs leading event venue, the Dubai World Trade Centre. For the latest episode of The Dan Assor Show I had the privilege to discuss a range of topics with Trixie, with highlights including; Trixie's experience arriving in 2005 as a young female leader in Dubai and her personal journey over the last 18 years Evolution of the Du...

Raccoon Media Group (Raccoon) is set to double its portfolio in the first year since it was acquired by Cuil Bay Capital (CBC) with the acquisition of Abilities Expo in the USA. This announcement brings Raccoon’s UK and US show portfolio to 17 events with more launches and acquisitions to be announced later in the year. In this exclusive interview with Raccoon CEO, Mike Seaman discusses the reason...

My guest for this episode is Mike Costain, MD of Lyrical Communications, organisers of InstallerSHOW , the UK’s number one destination for influential installers and specifiers of heat, water, air and energy technology. In 2022, after a period of rapid growth, Lyrical was acquired by Nineteen Group, the UK based events and media business, and Mike sits on their leadership team. In this episode, co...

In early January 2024, Easyfairs, the world’s largest privately owned exhibition organiser, announced the acquisition of European Trade & Exhibition Services, organiser of Southern Manufacturing & Electronics, bolstering its already extensive engineering and manufacturing portfolio that incorporates Advanced Engineering as well as many other brands across Europe. Read the full press releas...