Hemming Group Ltd has appointed Robin Booth as its new CEO, effective 6 July 2026. Booth will succeed Bill Butler, who is retiring after 35 years with the company, including nine years as group managing director.
The company said Butler’s tenure included strengthening its market position, expanding its digital operations and overseeing changes across its events portfolio. It described his retirement as the end of a long period of service.
Booth joins from emap, where he led changes to the business following its acquisition by Metropolis Group, with responsibility across events, subscriptions and digital revenues. He previously held senior roles at Aspermont, where he focused on international operations and digital development.
Founded in 1893, Hemming Group provides information and events for the UK’s local government, building services, highways and infrastructure sectors. Its portfolio includes publications, exhibitions, conferences and awards for public and private sector professionals.
Nick Service, chair of Hemming Group, said the appointment was part of the company’s next phase of development and that Booth’s experience would support its expansion across publishing and events. He 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.”
“My time with the company has given me the opportunity to work with all areas of the business,” said Butler. “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.
Booth said: “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.2
