Emerald and Questex Unite as Forge with New Board of Directors

Forge, the new corporate brand uniting Emerald and Questex, has debuted as a global B2B events and media company serving customers through live events, digital media, data and year-round communities. The move follows the acquisition of both companies by Apollo-managed funds in July 2026, and Forge starts with a single market-led strategy and a newly appointed board. The company combines Emerald's portfolio of trade shows, conferences and commerce-driven solutions with Questex's events, media brands and 365-day digital engagement model, offering customers one partner engaged before, during and after an event. Forge sits above the individual event and media brands, which keep their existing names. Chief executive Paul Miller said the combined business is now the largest B2B events and media company in North America and one of the largest in the world, and that it will keep investing in products, people and markets under Apollo Funds' ownership; the brand promise is Moving Markets. Alongside Miller and representatives of Apollo Funds, the board's independent directors are Andy Bird, former president of Walt Disney International and former chief executive of Pearson; Lara Boro, former chief executive of The Economist Group and of Informa Intelligence; and Simon Kimble, former chief executive and executive chairman of Clarion Events. The Forge brand rolls out across events, websites and customer touchpoints over the coming months.