Ad:Tech Sold to DMG World Media

The interactive advertising industry’s largest tradeshow, Ad:Tech, has been acquired by DMG World Media for an undisclosed amount. The buyer is a subsidiary of the UK-based Daily Mail and General Trust. The show’s prior owner was JD Events, which bought Ad:Tech from struggling events provider iMark Communications in January, 2003.

“It’s a wonderful thing for the Ad:Tech franchise,” said Joel Davis, CEO of JD Events. “JD events is a small show organizer and the Ad:Tech events have been growing exponentially and are in need of expanding overseas.”

Since DMG World Media has offices in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, the U.K., France, the United Arab Emirates, China, Australia and New Zealand, Davis expects the new owner to further expand the franchise globally. Ad:Tech had already been scheduled to put on shows in London and Shanghai this year, with the help of partners IMP Events and Infoex-World Services. Those relationships will continue, says Davis. In the U.S., the show has been held annually in San Francisco and New York. A Chicago event was added last year.

Davis said JD Events had been approached by a number of players interested in acquiring the conference. It found DMG World Media a “perfect fit.”

“We will be looking to find new ways to enhance and build on the Ad:Tech experience,” said Mark Carr, DMG World Media EVP, in a statement.

Though the new owner doesn’t have experience running advertising or technology-specific shows, Davis said continued involvement of the Ad:Tech advisory board will enable the show to maintain industry leadership. The JD Events crew will continue to produce Ad:Tech shows, while DMG World Media establishes a sales and management team. The firm is forming a new business unit, Ad:Tech Expositions, to house the effort. It will be based in San Francisco.

Ad:Tech, the largest of the interactive advertising industry’s trade shows, has had a rocky past. Founded in 1996 by iMark Communications, it was sold to JD Events in 2003, following the dot-com bust that devastated the interactive marketing world. The next Ad:Tech will be held in San Francisco in April.