Informa Plc, the world’s leading provider of maritime news, events and intelligence, International Marketing Strategies and the Connecticut Maritime Association have today concluded the sales to manage the annual CMA Shipping Trade Show. The 20 -year deal with the owners of Lloyds List, Lloyds Maritime Academy and Knect365 Maritime ensures a world leading maritime intelligence partner is in place to support the continuity and growing success of the show for decades to come.
Ensuring a smooth transition in management, Jim Lawrence and the IMS team will work with Informa and continue to manage CMA Shipping for both 2018 and 2019 editions. IMS will also serve as advisors to the CMA Shipping show in 2020.
CMA Shipping trade show is the CMA’s primary source of funding for its programs, including academic scholarships, internships and maritime community strengthening.
“We are excited about the new relationship with Informa and That it will carry us forward for the next 20 years with the possibilities of growth for CMA that come along with that. We looked all over the world for the right partner for this important task, and it became clear quite early on that Informa was that partner” Capt Joe Gross. CMA President.
The dynamism of ship owning, broking, cargo, seaports, financial markets and investors, state and federal academies, technology incubators, legal, insurance, alternative offshore energy, pioneering short sea shipping in North America makes this maritime event as important and vital as any in the world. The show has rapidly expanded in its global reach, this year appointing its 2018 Commodore to Ms Sabrina S. M Chao, Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Limited.
Commenting on the succession plan and of his team, Jim Lawrence, Chairman of IMS said “The CMA and I have been immensely fortunate to have worked with Lorraine Parsons. Her passion for the show, really everyone who walks through the doors, is astounding. Her pride in its success is understandable, but her passion for the success of the guests is unmatched. She has created a something special and has a great team to see it all done well. I can’t thank her enough” He continued, IMS' duty of care to the CMA after 30 years was to see the event into safe hands. Knect365 as part of the world’s preeminent event business took the time and made the effort to understand the special nature of the CMA event. A two- year transition starts a relationship which I know will see the CMA cluster in great hands for decades to come. A future I am looking forward to."
Dates for CMA Shipping 2019 have been confirmed as 2-4 April, Hilton Hotel, Stamford.