Skift Take
In its 96-year historical past, Freeman has by no means been led by a girl, however that’s about to alter. On July 1, Janet Dell takes the helm and can oversee one of many largest occasion firms on this planet.
Janet Dell, Freeman’s president and chief working officer, will succeed Bob Priest-Heck as CEO on July 1, 2024. At the moment, Priest-Heck will step down as CEO and retire. He’ll proceed as a member of Freeman’s Board of Administrators.
Freeman’s 2022 income is estimated at just below $3 billion. It has round 5,000 full-time staff and plenty of extra contractors. Freeman made two vital acquisitions in 2023, Impression Level Group, a tech-focused occasions firm, and model expertise company Sparks.
Janet Dell
Dell joins a small group of feminine leaders holding high roles within the occasions trade. That is the primary time a girl has led Freeman in its 96-year historical past.
Dell has held a number of roles since becoming a member of Freeman in March 2018. She at present leads the corporate’s long-term technique execution throughout the globe. Popping out of the Covid pandemic, she architected the ramp-up of the group by rehiring 95% of furloughed staff, and onboarding over 3,000 new staff, leading to document income progress.
“Since Janet joined Freeman in 2018, she has reworked Freeman in methods massive and small. She has instilled a data-driven strategy to decision-making, cultivated an built-in working mannequin to drive higher cross-team collaboration and buyer expertise, and made significant strides to develop and diversify our workforce,” says Priest-Heck.
Bob Priest-Heck
Part of the occasions trade for 35 years, Priest-Heck started his profession in tech publishing. He went on to create tech occasions, together with Digital World, Networld + Interop, JavaOne, Java World Tour, and Internet 2.0. He joined Freeman in 2011 with the acquisition of Wheelhouse Options and have become CEO in 2018.
Priest-Heck’s concentrate on sustainability meant that Freeman was one of many first firms to signal the Zero Carbon Occasions Pledge. He additionally created “Go LIVE Collectively“, a gaggle that helped facilitate legislative motion through the Covid pandemic.
