19 January, 2022

RX acquires major data conference owner, appoints new sustainability director

RX, formerly Reed Exhibitions, has acquired 3^rd Street Group Ltd, the owners and organisers of Big Data LDN, and appointed a brand new sustainability director.

Big Data LDN is one of the UK’s largest data and analytics conferences and exhibitions, hosting leading data, analytics experts and suppliers.

The event brings together the data and analytics community in a unique exhibition format for the sector, including a superior, end user-led conference programme.

Big Data LDN will join the RX portfolio in the UK, with founder Bill Hammond remaining as its event director.

“Despite the impact that the pandemic has had on the events industry, we continue our longstanding tradition of acquiring key events in growth sectors and markets,” Hugh Jones, RX CEO, said.

“Big Data LDN is a perfect fit for our portfolio, and I am delighted that Bill and his team will be joining RX to develop Big Data LDN even further. Their professionalism, knowledge and dedication are astonishing, and I’m excited to work with them to grow this event in the coming years.”

The news came as Helen Sheppard was named as the company’s first global sustainability director.

In this newly created role, Sheppard will focus on RX’s commitment to the UFI Net Carbon Zero Event pledge. RX is a founding partner of the pledge, signed in November 2021, and commits the event industry to achieve net-zero by 2050, at the latest, and halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Helen Sheppard

Sheppard joins from RELX and reports to chief operating officer Brian Brittain, in his role as the RX representative on the Sustainability Board at UFI.

“I am excited to take on this new and critical role to develop a roadmap on what becoming Net Zero means to us at RX and for all of our show brands,” Sheppard said.

“Working closely with our event and operations leaders, and external partners such as the other companies who have signed the pledge, I look forward to identifying and helping to create specific best practice for our own offices, the sectors we serve and our show production.”

Brian Brittain, COO said Helen has been one of our most experienced sustainability leaders working at RELX.

“In her time with the Corporate Responsibility team, she has been responsible for human rights, engagement on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including the management of the RELX SDG Resource Centre, and advancing inclusion and diversity,” Brittain said.

“Her knowledge and experience is exactly the profile that we need within RX to support us on our journey to become a fully sustainable business, one that is future-fit and one that crucially contributes in the fight against climate change.”

Featured image: Instagram/bigdata_ldn

Advertise with us

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

3rd Street Group Ltd Big Data LDN Helen Sheppard Hugh Jones Reed Exhibitions RX sustainability director