Rick McConnell

Rick McConnell is President of Dallas-based Informa Exhibitions U.S. Construction & Real Estate, Inc., and President of Informa Canada. Informa is one of the world’s leading business intelligence, knowledge and events businesses with more than 6,000 employees in over 100 offices across 25 countries. A 27-year veteran in tradeshow management, McConnell began his career at Informa when it acquired Hanley Wood Exhibitions in December 2014. He was named President of Hanley Wood Exhibitions in July 2009, where he is responsible for managing and growing the company's exhibition activities. He began his career at Hanley Wood in 2001 as Show Director, after holding senior management positions with Miller Freeman/VNU, MAGIC International, and the Dallas Market Center. McConnell holds an MBA from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southwest Texas State University. He is a long-time active member of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and the Society of Independent Show Organizers . He served as the SISO Chair from April 2014-205, and frequently speaks at industry events and seminars. McConnell and his wife, Kim, live in Coppell, a suburb of Dallas, and have three daughters, Holley, Heather and Hannah.