UFI Names Diversified’s Mary Larkin Incoming President

May 2, 2018

The UFI Board of Directors has elected Diversified Business Communications’ Mary Larkin as president of UFI for 2020.

This decision was made at the board meeting during the UFI European Conference in Verona, Italy, and becomes effective at the conclusion of the 85th UFI Global Congress, which runs from Oct. 31- Nov. 3 in St. Petersburg.

Corrado Peraboni, UFI’s current president, welcomed the election of Larkin, saying: “I congratulate Mary Larkin for being elected as the new UFI incoming President. It will be a great privilege for me to be part of the presidential trio, together with Craig Newman and Andreas Gruchow in this historical moment - Mary will be the first female president in UFI’s history and also the first to be based in the U.S. I wish her every success in performing all the important duties that are required of this position.”

The UFI presidential trio for the 2018/19 term will comprise of: Craig Newman (Johannesburg Expo Centre, South Africa) President 2018/19; Mary Larkin (Diversified Communications, Portland, Me.) Incoming President; Corrado Peraboni (Fiera Milano, Italy) Outgoing President.

"I am delighted to be part of UFI’s leadership in the coming years and to continue with the development and support that UFI has provided the industry for so long,” Larkin said.

She added, “I am particularly looking forward to representing and working with women to help increase the level of female representation in leadership positions within the industry."

As UFI’s incoming president, Mary Larkin will work closely with the incumbent President and outgoing President to make up the presidential trio, managing UFI at the highest level, and helping UFI continue on its path of global development.

larkin

As executive vice president, Larkin oversees Diversified Communication’s US operations, as well as the international portfolio of seafood tradeshows, conferences and online reporting, including Seafood Expo Global (Brussels) and Seafood Expo North America (Boston), the industry’s leading events globally. She also oversees events in Asia (Hong Kong) and Diversified’s Integrative Healthcare and Wine portfolio.

Larkin began her tradeshow and conference career in Europe before moving to the U.S. in 1995 to join Diversified, where she held roles in sales and as show director. She was appointed Group Vice President in 2004 and Executive Vice President in 2014.

She serves on many industry Boards including the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO), Executive Board of UFI (Global Exhibitions Association and Seafood Industry Research Fund (SIRF). She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Grieving Children in Portland, Me.

UFI was founded in 1925 as a non-profit, non-partisan international association, and today is the global association for the exhibitions industry, directly representing more than 50,000 exhibition industry professionals in almost 90 countries around the world. UFI operates four regional offices in addition to the headquarters in Paris.

UFI's recent presidents were from Germany (Andreas Gruchow 2016/17), Russia (Sergey Alexeev 2015/16), Colombia (Andrés López-Valderrama 2014/15), France (Renaud Hamaide, 2013/14), and China (Xianjin Chen, 2012/13).

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.