Tom Glocer named chair-elect of Informa PLC

Informa PLC has confirmed that Tom Glocer will become its next chair, succeeding John Rishton at the helm of the international business intelligence and events group. The London-listed company, which operates across B2B events, digital services and academic markets, has named Glocer as chair-elect as part of its board succession planning.

The appointment brings a leader with deep experience in data, information services and global markets into a role that will help shape Informa’s next phase of growth in exhibitions, conferences and digital platforms.

Background and industry context

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Informa is one of the largest global players in B2B events and related services, operating trade shows, conferences and digital communities across multiple sectors, including technology, life sciences, industrials and finance. Alongside its events portfolio, the group provides subscription-based digital services and academic content, positioning itself at the intersection of live, hybrid and online information delivery.

The events and exhibitions sector has undergone substantial transformation in recent years, accelerated by the pandemic and the shift towards digital engagement, data-driven marketing and year-round communities. Large organisers are increasingly focused on complementing face-to-face events with digital services that extend reach, capture richer data and support continuous customer interaction.

Against this backdrop, leadership with expertise in information services, analytics and enterprise technology has become strategically important for event organisers seeking to compete globally and modernise their platforms.

Key developments in the appointment

Glocer has been appointed chair-elect of Informa PLC, with a planned transition to succeed John Rishton as chair of the board. While specific dates for the handover were not disclosed in the original announcement, the designation as chair-elect signals a structured and managed process, in line with UK corporate governance practices.

Glocer is best known for his tenure as chief executive of Reuters Group plc and subsequently Thomson Reuters Corporation, where he led a major global financial data and information services business. His boardroom and leadership experience spans highly regulated, technology-intensive and information-led industries, which aligns with Informa’s focus areas.

Rishton, the outgoing chair, has overseen a period in which Informa has navigated significant shifts in the events market, including pandemic disruption, the restart of large-scale in-person events, and accelerated investment in digital products and data capabilities.

Implications for Informa’s strategy

Bringing in a chair with a background in financial information and digital platforms suggests continued emphasis on Informa’s evolution from a traditional events organiser to a broader B2B markets and data partner. The group has been positioning its events not just as one-off meetings, but as hubs in larger ecosystems of content, connections and digital services.

Glocer’s experience leading and governing companies built around data, software tools and subscription revenues may support further integration of analytics, audience insights and digital workflows into Informa’s events and services portfolio. As trade shows and conferences become more tightly linked to CRM systems, marketing automation and digital marketplaces, governance from leaders with strong technology and information credentials is increasingly valued by investors and customers alike.

The leadership transition also arrives at a time when listed event groups are under scrutiny to demonstrate resilience, diversified revenue streams and scalable digital infrastructure. Informa’s mix of physical events, digital services and academic publishing provides multiple growth levers but also requires careful strategic coordination at board level.

Industry impact for events and exhibitions

Major leadership changes at global organisers can ripple through the wider events ecosystem, influencing investment priorities, partnership strategies and technology adoption timelines. Informa’s decisions on areas such as event tech platforms, data standards, content formats and sustainability practices often set benchmarks that other organisers and suppliers watch closely.

With Glocer stepping into the chair role, there may be increased board-level focus on:

Strengthening data and analytics capabilities across events and digital services.
Enhancing digital products that extend the lifecycle of in-person events.
Exploring partnerships or acquisitions in technology, content and specialist communities.
Supporting more robust risk management around geopolitical, regulatory and market volatility that affects global events.

While day-to-day operational decisions remain with Informa’s executive team, board leadership can influence how aggressively the group pursues innovation in areas such as AI-driven matchmaking, audience intelligence, programmatic sponsorships and integrated exhibitor tools.

Why this matters for event professionals and technology providers

For event organisers, exhibitors and technology suppliers, the appointment signals continuity of Informa’s strategy to blend live events with digital and data-led services, overseen by governance with strong information industry credentials. This has several practical implications:

For event organisers: Informa’s direction can shape customer expectations around measurement, ROI reporting and the integration of digital touchpoints into physical shows. Competing organisers may feel increased pressure to upgrade their own tech stacks and data strategies.
For tech providers: Vendors in registration, matchmaking, event apps, data platforms and marketing technology will view Informa’s leadership priorities as an indicator of where demand may grow. A stronger emphasis on analytics and recurring digital engagement could open up new collaboration opportunities or requirements for deeper integration.
For corporate event teams: As Informa evolves its offerings, enterprise buyers may gain access to more sophisticated tools for tracking engagement across multiple events, connecting physical participation with digital behaviour, and aligning event investments with broader marketing and sales pipelines.
For venues and destinations: A leadership team attuned to data and digital models is likely to look for partners who can support hybrid infrastructure, connectivity, sustainability metrics and real-time operational data.

The governance shift also reinforces a wider trend of event businesses being steered by leaders with backgrounds in software, data and information services rather than purely media or venue operations.

Conclusion

Tom Glocer’s appointment as chair-elect of Informa PLC marks a notable transition at one of the most influential groups in global B2B events, digital services and academic publishing. With his history leading large-scale information and data businesses, Glocer is positioned to support Informa’s ongoing shift towards more technology-enabled, insight-driven offerings for exhibitors, visitors and subscribers.

As the handover from John Rishton progresses, stakeholders across the event technology and exhibitions landscape will be watching how Informa’s board priorities evolve, particularly in areas where live events intersect with digital platforms, analytics and year-round communities. While the company’s core role as a convenor of markets is unlikely to change, its approach to data, technology and long-term partnerships may further shape standards and expectations across the wider industry.