Stateside with Stephanie
Smooth operator back in the saddle in Asia
Jimè Essink comes out of retirement to boost business development at GLOBUS Events – targeting growth in China and Southeast Asia
ince Advent ’ s
S investment in February 2024 , GLOBUS Events ( formerly VNU Exhibitions Asia ) has pursued ambitious goals , solidifying its position as a primary organiser of conferences and exhibitions in China . Advent is a leading global private equity investor with 16 offices across five continents and more than 420 investments across 43 countries .
Jimè Essink retired as president and CEO of Informa Markets Asia in January 2020 to spend time with his family and live in Spain . Retirement didn ’ t last long .
In late 2023 , Advent approached Essink with an offer to become an operating partner of Advent and a Board member of GLOBUS Events . He explained , “ Though Advent has significant experience in business services , medical and retail industries , they sought my experience in exhibitions and approached me to become an operating partner and help to develop the expo business .”
He continued , “ I was very excited to return to my roots of VNU Exhibitions Asia and work with David Zhong , my former
Jimè Essink
business partner from Jaarbeurs , who is president at GLOBUS Events . I knew my experience would add value for Advent and GLOBUS , so I said yes .”
For 30 years , Essink led B2B media businesses in emerging and developed markets throughout Asia , South America and Europe . In November 2007 , he was appointed CEO of UBM Asia , where he led the company to become Asia ’ s leading exhibition organiser . Later , Essink managed the integration of Informa and
UBM in Asia until retirement .
He said , “ around the third month of retirement ”, Jochen Witt from jwc asked him to join his team as a freelance consultant on a project basis . The decision to go back to work was a realisation that , “ I missed solving the complex puzzles presented by the exhibition industry . I realised it was one of the things I loved most about working in it .
“ Other reasons to return to working were missing the friends and colleagues I had , along with the celebratory atmosphere of a successful exhibition .”
Essink had never worked with a PE firm before and says he enjoys the experience with Advent . “ It ’ s fun for two reasons : First , the firm is ambitious . They want to grow and expand their presence in exhibitions . Unlike public companies , PE firms make decisions faster and are pragmatic . Also , they have high trust in the team and me to deliver beneficial results .
“ Secondly , Advent hired strong people with relevant experience in mergers and acquisitions .” This helped GLOBUS conclude rapidly three acquisitions in 2024 . Two significant players are the new CEO Edwin Tan , formerly with Reed China and Messe Munich China / SE Asia , and Jessica Zhu , COO , who is integral to the running of the existing business .
The company presently organises over 20 expos – some as partnerships , others whollyowned . Looking to 2025 and beyond , they plan to acquire more Chinese exhibitions and expand further into Southeast Asia . In the meantime , Essink is delighted to be back in the exhibition industry and enjoying the Spanish sunshine . EW
20 Issue 1 2025 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk