• Informa's business in Asia to integrate into UBM Asia structure Margaret Ma Connolly appointed CEO of UBM Asia

• Jimé Essink becomes President of enlarged UBM Asia business

Informa, the International Exhibitions, Events, Business Intelligence and Academic Publishing Group, has strengthened its Senior Management Team in Asia, as part of the combination of UBM and Informa's regional businesses into a single enlarged Asia business.

Over the course of the next 12 months, Informa's business in Asia will be integrated into UBM Asia, creating a business with over 2,000 colleagues, around 300 exhibition and event brands and a leadership position in China, India and South-East Asia exhibitions.

Its new Senior Team will comprise talent from both UBM and Informa and is effective 1 August 2018.

• Jimé Essink, current President and CEO of UBM Asia, will become President of the combined UBM Asia business. He will continue to oversee the UBM Sinoexpo and UBM ASEAN businesses, including UBM Allworld for the next 12 months, after which time these responsibilities will transition to Margaret Ma Connelly and Jimé will take on a wider remit within the Informa Group;
• Margaret Ma Connolly, current Managing Director for UBM China, will become CEO of the enlarged UBM Asia business. She will take immediate day-to-day leadership of the remainder of the UBM Asia portfolio, including UBM's businesses in China, Japan, India, Korea and Taiwan, as well as oversee the combination of Informa in Asia. She will assume responsibility for the full UBM Asia business from 1 July 2019 onwards;
• David Bondi, current head of Informa's China Exhibitions business, will become Vice President and a member of the Board of UBM Asia, with specific oversight of the Jewellery and Beauty businesses, as well as the enlarged UBM China business;
• Athena Gong, current General Manager for the CBME (Children -Baby -Maternity -Expo) portfolio, has been promoted to Managing Director for UBM China, reporting directly to David Bondi;
• Michael Duck, current Executive Vice President for UBM Asia, will add the direct responsibility for UBM Sinoexpo to his responsibilities. His additional role as Group Chief Representative in China will be extended to all Informa businesses in China.

Jimé Essink, President of UBM Asia commented:

"UBM Asia has a long track record of delivering business growth and outstanding events for our customers. The combination with Informa extends and enhances our position in the region and I am pleased to be part of the continuing story.

Margaret has an outstanding track record and is a respected and confident leader, having built UBM China into one of the country's leading exhibitions business over the last nine years. She is ideally placed to take up the role of CEO of UBM Asia, and I am confident that under her leadership, the business will continue to grow and flourish."

Margaret Ma Connolly commented:

"As a combined business and exhibitions leader in Asia, I believe we have even greater potential to deliver powerful and successful events and solutions for our customers, growth for our business partners, and opportunities for our teams and colleagues throughout the region. It's an exciting time ahead and I look forward to working with the rest of the Senior Team to deliver on this promise."

On 15 June 2018, Informa completed the acquisition of UBM plc to become the leading global B2B exhibitions group.