The former chief executive of B2B events and media specialists Tarsus Group has acquired a minority stake in Travolution parent Jacobs Media for an undisclosed sum.
The stake will see Doug Emslie join the board as deputy chairman alongside chairman and majority shareholder Clive Jacobs, who founded the business in 2009 with the acquisition of Travel Weekly Group from Reed Business Information.
Emslie joined the Tarsus Group on its formation in 1998 and went on to serve as chief executive for 25 years until its sale to Informa for more than $1 billion. His investment in Jacobs Media will see industry experts Colin Morrison and Ian Findlay leave the business, in addition to fellow founding shareholder, the late Michael East.
Jacobs Media celebrated its 15th anniversary this year and has grown from a single-brand business to one with a portfolio of nine brands across travel and hospitality and headquarters in the UK and Dubai. It will run 160 global events and exhibitions in 2024 in addition to producing its market-leading print and digital products.
Jacobs said: “As we enter the next stage of our growth in the UK and internationally, I am delighted to work alongside someone who brings such a wealth of experience and knowledge of the events and media sector.
“Doug shares my vision for Jacobs Media and I am confident of the pivotal role he will play as we meet our ambitious strategic objectives over the coming years.”
He added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Colin and Ian for their support, belief and trust in the team and me over the past 15 years, and in particular Michael, who is deeply missed and without whom the opportunity to acquire Travel Weekly Group may never have presented itself.”
Emslie said: “Jacobs Media has some wonderful brands and a great team, and I am excited by the potential of what we can achieve working together. I can see opportunities in the UK and in overseas markets, with the international events opportunity particularly significant.”
He added: “In previous roles I oversaw an ambitious events strategy driven by quality content, and I can see that Jacobs Media shares those fundamentals and has grown notably in recent years as a result. I believe Clive has created a superb business in Jacobs Media, and I am looking forward to supporting the next step of its growth journey.”
