The management team at GovNet, an organiser of public sector events, has completed a management buyout of the company from founder Jo Walsh.
The MBO, spearheaded by CEO James Tucker (pictured), will enable the business to execute a growth strategy, including acquisitions going forward.
Over the past four years, GovNet’s key exhibitions and conferences have included the Schools & Academies Show, HETT (Healthcare Excellence Through Technology), DigiGov Expo, Modernising Criminal Justice Conference, and the Counter Fraud Conference.
Tucker joined GovNet as COO in January 2019, responsible for the day-to-day running of the business, before taking on the role of CEO at the beginning of 2021. He said: “This is a landmark moment for GovNet, our leadership team, and our incredible colleagues who continue to work tirelessly to deliver exceptional experiences and connections to drive better public services across the UK.
“This exciting development provides a platform for us to go full throttle in 2025 and the years that follow. We’re not saying goodbye to our past – it makes us who we are today – but it’s a pivotal moment for us. Now we focus on delivering relentlessly for our customers and audience, making it easy and fun for them to join us on the journey we’ve embarked upon.”
Collingwood’s corporate finance team provided full lead advisory support to execute the debt-backed MBO, led by Tucker, and funded by Kvika, the Icelandic challenger bank.
