Universal WorldEvents will be the largest event management business specialising in serving the healthcare sector.
In November 2010, WorldEvents was acquired by United Drug, which already owned UniversalProcon. Following a strategic review process it has been agreed by the Boards of both businesses that the two companies will merge as of March 1.
It is believed the merger will create the largest global event management business specialising in serving the healthcare sector. The combined turnover of the company, to be known as Universal WorldEvents, will be close to €120m. It will have 250 employees located in offices in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, US, Hong Kong and Singapore. In the previous 12 months the companies managed over 1100 meetings and events in over 45 countries.
Clients will benefit from the increased global reach of the new merged business – which although operating internationally, will offer local knowledge and deliver a personal service right across the globe. The objective will be to expand the global footprint further – only last week it was announced in Italy that WorldEvents has opened an office in Rome.
Universal WorldEvents will develop the services currently offered by each business – including venue finding and travel.
The business will be backed by the financial strength and wider healthcare experience of United Drug, with Universal WorldEvents sitting amongst an array of complementary businesses forming United Drug’s Sales and Marketing Services (SMMS) Division, all offering bespoke services to the healthcare sector.
The two companies teamed up mid-way through 2010 to contend for and eventually win a major global healthcare opportunity and got to know each other well during the process, recognising there was a good cultural fit. The client remarked that the alliance, as it was then, was a highly imaginative initiative and one that was bound to be extremely well received by the pharmaceutical industry at large.
It has been agreed jointly by both Boards that Graham McIntosh (UniversalProcon’s current Managing Director) will become Managing Director of Universal WorldEvents. Martin Parry of WorldEvents will remain on the Board and retain key client relationships as well as having strategic project responsibilities, at a United Drug Divisional level, reporting into SMMS Managing Director, Chris Corbin. Other key positions that have been announced to date are that Mark Saxby will be Sales & Marketing Director, Andrew Winterburn, European Director and Jeremy Wilson, Finance Director.
