Informa's acquisition of mediaPro event to boost Cross Media 2012

Informa Print & Media Group, the organiser of Cross Media 2012 and Ipex 2014, has acquired mediaPro from CloserStill Media with immediate effect. Informa will integrate mediaPro within Cross Media 2012, which runs from 3-4 September 2012 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London.

Cross Media 2012 is the event for marketers and agencies to discover how cross-platform campaigns can improve ROI, and for traditional print and media owners to understand the commercial implications and opportunities for their businesses. The free-to-attend event features six seminar theatres, over 70 inspirational speakers and more than 80 exhibitors.

mediaPro was conceived to help media professionals understand the shifting landscape of multichannel marketing, and to bring marketers, agencies and publishers together with a broad range of technology and solution providers. In 2011, the mediaPro seminar programme featured over 60 senior marketers from national and global brands, highlighting cutting edge campaigns and creative initiatives.

Nick Craig Waller, Event Director for Cross Media 2012 and Marketing Director for Ipex 2014 comments, “mediaPro is a well-known event brand for the media and marketing community, and we are delighted to be able to integrate it within Cross Media 2012 this year. This will enhance the educational content that we can offer visitors from the marketing community. The agency, marketing, publishing and creative visitor audiences that have gravitated to mediaPro since its launch will find all the guidance and inspiration they need at Cross Media 2012 â€" it’s a perfect fit.”

He continues, “Looking ahead to Ipex 2014, the acquisition of mediaPro reinforces our commitment to evolving Ipex to reflect the contemporary print value chain. We fully recognise that marketing and publishers play a critical role in creating, planning and delivering effective multi-channel campaigns with print at its core. With that in mind, Ipex 2014 will have a strong focus on helping media professionals and print service providers collaborate more closely to deliver optimum ROI for the brand owner.”

Commenting on behalf of the Informa Print & Media Group, Trevor Crawford, Group Director says, “This acquisition reflects Informa’s ongoing commitment to the print and media sector, and we look forward to further developing the Cross Media brand with the view to becoming an integral part of Ipex 2014. Nearly 400,000 people work in London’s £32 billion creative industry and generate 16% of the city’s gross value, making it the capital’s second largest sector. And, as it hosts a large number of Europe’s biggest advertisers and world-leading digital agencies, Ipex 2014, which is taking place from 26th March to 2nd April 2012 at London’s ExCeL International Exhibition and Conference Centre is set to attract a wider audience of print specifiers than ever before.”

Phil Nelson, Commercial Director of CloserStill, comments, "mediaPro has come a long way since its launch less than three years ago, attracting an audience of over 4,500 senior marketing decision-makers in 2011. There is a great fit between mediaPro and Informa`s print and marketing portfolio which should be to the benefit of exhibitors and visitors and help mediaPro to develop further and faster."

The acquisition of mediaPro is limited to the brand assets and intellectual property. No personnel will move to Informa Group.