Mark Griffin, chairman and founder of Diversified Midlands, has announced that he is leaving the company, after over 20 years with the business he grew from a start-up.  Mr Griffin sold his business to Diversified Communications last year and has played a key role in the successful integration between the two businesses.

Commenting on the announcement, Carsten Holm, managing director of Diversified Communications UK, says: “It’s been a true privilege working with Mark, both as a colleague and as a true business professional, for whom his staff and customers always come first.

“Mark has always been a real visionary and has created some fantastic events and publications over the years, including the very successful Euro Bus Expo and Coach & Bus Live events, as well as market leading titles including RouteONE, Coach Monthly, MiniPLUS, CDC News, and CDC Coach Tourism Yearbook.

“Mark is a natural showman and I have always been struck by his ability to create amazing relationships and lasting friendships with colleagues and customers alike, and his ‘good enough is just not good enough’ philosophy, which he applies to everything he does.  Mark is not just recognised as one of best known personalities in the UK’s bus and coach industry but has also managed to build a fantastic team of true professionals around him who create great magazines and events.  Just last week, Euro Bus Expo was nominated as finalists for Best UK Tradeshow and its operations team are up for Best Organiser Team of the Year at the prestigious Association of Event Organisers’ Excellence Awards, which is an incredible achievement.

“Outside of his hectic business career Mark has a passion for his busy charity work and has decided to use his business skills and experience to focus on supporting others.  I therefore completely understand why Mark feels, after 20 years, that the time has come to hand over the baton.  He has left the company in great shape, with a really committed, talented team, which will continue to run the business in the same personal and professional way, and with the same attention to detail, as Mark always has.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Mark for everything he has brought to the industry over the years, and to Diversified, and to wish him the very best with the next chapter.  One thing is for sure – it definitely won’t be boring but full of new challenges and exciting times ahead.  Mark is a true entrepreneur and ideas man and has lots more to give!”

For more information, please contact: Carsten Holm, managing director of Diversified UK, on 01273 645114 or [email protected].

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Notes:

Diversified Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton, Peterborough, Leamington Spa, and Nailsworth, Glos.  Diversified UK’s portfolio includes Euro Bus Expo; Coach and Bus Live; British Tourism & Travel Show – Best of Britain & Ireland; Route One; Coach Monthly; CDC News; RouteONE magazine; The Route One Operator Excellence Awards; National Coach Tourism Awards; miniPLUS; CDC Coach Tourism Yearbook; Natural & Organic Products Europe; Nordic Organic Food Fair and Natural Products Scandinavia in Malmö, Sweden; Casual Dining; lunch!; camexpo; office*; SITS – The IT Service Management Show; Natural Products magazine; Natural Beauty Yearbook; Geo Business; Ocean Business (including Offshore Survey Conference & Ocean Careers); and MARELEC Marine Electromagnetics conference.  For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk.

Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company providing market access, education and information through global, national and regional face-to-face events, eMedia, publications and television stations.  Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine, and business management.  Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified employs over 800 staff, with divisions in the Eastern United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom.  For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.