William Reed, the UK family-owned media business serving the global food ecosystem, has appointed Richard Sexton (pictured) as chief operating officer (COO). He was previously UK operations director at Dentsu and at Carat UK.
As COO, he will work with CEO Tracy De Groose on a remit to “focus on driving speed and discipline across operations, embedding a performance mindset and a culture of continuous improvement, informed decision-making, and personal accountability”.
De Groose said: “Richard’s appointment is a pivotal moment for William Reed. This new role will help us deliver on our priorities with clarity and impact, supporting growth and improving profitability across our brands. Richard’s experience in tackling complex business challenges and managing stakeholders at all levels makes him the ideal partner as we continue to transform and future-proof the business.”
Sexton added: “Having worked closely with the team over recent months, I’ve seen first-hand the ambition and energy driving this transformation. My focus will be on ensuring we operate with pace, discipline and collaboration – creating the foundations for sustainable growth and success.”
The appointment follows a period of significant change at William Reed, including the arrival of De Groose in 2024 and the appointment of chair Holly Widdowson in 2025.
William Reed has served the food and drinks industry for more than a century, with teams in Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. Among its shows are The UK Food & Drink Show at NEC Birmingham, featuring four co-located shows: Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show and Forecourt Show.
Source: www.exhibitionworld.co.uk
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