Emerald Expositions sees leadership change and new business

Emerald Expositions, parent of Outdoor Retailer, this week announced changes to its executive team and its portfolio. 

Appointed in June, Sally Shankland is stepping down as president and chief executive officer at the end of the year due to personal health reasons. She will become the executive director and senior advisor, and will remain on the board of directors.

Brian Field, Emerald Expositions’ COO, will step in as the company’s interim president and CEO, starting on Jan. 1, 2020. He will continue in the role while the company searches for Shankland’s permanent replacement.

Kosty Gilis, Chairman of the Board, in a statement thanked Shankland for her positive impacts and efforts, including attracting Field to the team in June. Gilis said Field “has been responsible for jointly developing and implementing Sally’s strategic plan designed to improve customer satisfaction, enhance Emerald’s operating efficiency, identify and pursue ancillary revenue opportunities and, ultimately, return the Company to sustainable organic growth. The Board has been impressed with the quick implementation of Sally’s strategic initiatives and the execution delivered by Brian and his team.”

Also this week, Emerald Expositions acquired the trade publication Shop Eat Surf for an undisclosed amount. Roy Turner, show director of Surf Expo and a senior vice president at Emerald Expositions, said the publication will complement the trade event.

“We are proud of what we have accomplished as a stand-alone, bootstrapped start-up in a rapidly evolving media environment,” Tiffany Montgomery wrote in an announcement. “What started as an experiment 12 years ago has turned into a news service that is read by industry leaders around the world.”

Earlier this year, Emerald Expositions underwent a restructuring and Darrell Denny left his post as executive vice president.