Hemming Group Ltd has appointed Robin Booth as chief executive officer. Booth joins from emap and will take up this new role on 6 July 2026. Booth succeeds Bill Butler, who is retiring after 35 years with the business. He has served as group managing director for the past nine years.
Booth joins from emap. He worked on business model changes following its acquisition by Metropolis Group, with a focus on events, subscriptions, and digital revenue. He has also held roles at Aspermont. His experience includes managing multi-brand portfolios and developing digital products.
Booth said, “I’m delighted to be joining Hemming Group at such an important moment in its history. The business has an extraordinary heritage and a strong reputation for delivering trusted information, events and connections to specialist industries, and I’m excited by the opportunity to help lead it through the next phase of its development.
“Our markets are evolving rapidly, and this is a moment of real change for media and events businesses. Our focus will be on responding to – and anticipating – the changing needs of our customers and audiences, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional information, exceptional experiences, exceptional direct channels to market and exceptional customer value and service.“Hemming has thrived for more than 130 years by staying close to the industries it serves and continually adapting to meet their needs. I’m looking forward to working with the senior leadership team, the board and colleagues across the business to build on that legacy and ensure a bright and successful future for the next 130 years and beyond.”
Hemming Group was founded in 1893. It operates across publishing, exhibitions, conferences, and awards in sectors including local government, building services, and infrastructure.
Nick Service, chair, said:
“Bill has been a driving force in Hemming Group’s success for more than three decades, and we are deeply grateful for his dedication and leadership. We are delighted to welcome Robin, whose experience and energy make him ideally suited to build on Bill’s work and guide the company in its next chapter.”
“Robin will contribute a fresh strategic vision to support the organisation’s continued expansion and innovation. As CEO, he will lead the coming phase of development across Hemming Group’s publishing and events brands.”
Butler said:
“My time with the company has given me the opportunity to work with all areas of the business. As Group Managing Director, it has been both challenging and rewarding to guide the organisation through a period of substantial transformation. Our priority has been to build the foundations for sustainable future growth, underpinned by investment in people, technology and data. Working alongside such committed colleagues and partners has been a genuine privilege.”