EXHIBITIONTHE HEARTBEAT OF THE UK EXHIBITION INDUSTRYFEBRUARY 2012BUSINESS CLINICSimon Naudi shares his latest crisis; JP's media tips P35 customer service Mike Schwarz's best and worst; marketing tips from the major brands; how to think more strategically; social from KPMGTHE AEO'S KARIM HALWAGI: "THE UK HAS RESOLUTELY SHOWN ITSELF TO BE THE GREATEST EXPORTER OF EXHIBITION AND EVENT EXPERTISE GLOBALLY" P38 "SOME BUSINESSES IGNORE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE THEM CHANGE DIRECTION BECAUSE IT'S TOO DIFFICULT. WE'LL DO IT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING" P16 www.exhibitionnews.co.uk 1New owners say there are no plans to change upcoming showsIt's back to the future for Ocean100% DESIGN SOLDReed Exhibitions design show acquired; Event and Exhibiting's new home; fears for RHH's expo future P6 EVENT APPS MANIASmartphone uptake has opened a new marketing and communications channel for organisers. Here's why P21 SIGN OF THE TIMESWe look at how Faversham's Sign & Digital UK remains relevant 25 years on and where it's going next P15 Ocean Media Group's new owners say there are no plans to make changes to the company's forthcoming show portfolio following their acquisition.Former Ocean owners David Moran and Ulric Kenny of Ion Equity have bought the group back from Anglo Irish Bank for an undisclosed sum. According to a company statement, the buyout was fi nanced privately and will leave Ocean Media debt free. "As such it is able to, and intends to, launch and acquire new business," the statement read.Moran and Ion Equity owned Ocean from July 2006 to October 2007. Under the new deal, Kenny will become chair of Ocean Media, while Moran will assume the CEO's post. Former chairman Trevor Barratt has resigned. Moran is an industry veteran and has spent the past 18 months as chairman of Scoop International, a contemporary designer fashion show that launched in 2011. He was also chairman of Media Sales Network. "They say you should never go back but Ocean is a great company with strong products and fantastic people and I am looking forward to growing Ocean again," Moran said. No changes to any shows are planned. Kenny added: "We enjoyed working with David and the team the fi rst time round. To misquote Victor Kiam, 'I liked the company so much I bought it twice'."Moran said it is now business as usual for Ocean's forthcoming shows such as Event Production Show (pictured).Ocean's sale comes nearly 12 months after its banks assumed shareholder control in a bid to fi nd a permanent solution to the group's multi-million pound debt problem. The historical debt had its roots in AAC Capital Partners' £104m acquisition in 2007. Barratt confi rmed a restructure was underway in July but stressed the group remained profi table. In November, Livingstone Partners was appointed to fi nd a new owner. INSIDEVISITOR PROMOTIONSWhat does a successful visitor promotion campaign look like? Organisers tell us how to get the marketing mix right P18 

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