Done Deals: CloserStill Media North America and Business Strategies Group Announce Acquisitions and AgreementsDone Deals: CloserStill Media North America and Business Strategies Group Announce Acquisitions and Agreements
Global events powerhouse CloserStill Media expands its North American footprint by acquiring the PARCEL Forum exhibition, while Hong Kong-based Business Strategies Group (BSG) announces a planned leadership transition from founder Paul Woodward to longtime managing director Mark Cochrane.
June 24, 2025
A global events organizer and an Asia-based B2B events and media-focused consultancy announced a major U.S. show acquisition and a passing of the ownership baton, respectively.
CloserStill Media Scoops Up PARCEL Forum in the U.S.
Global business events, exhibitions, and conferences producer CloserStill Media has expanded its growing North American portfolio with the acquisition of PARCEL Forum, a U.S.-based conference and expo dedicated to the small-package fulfilment industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Context: Specializing in high-value, content-driven events and the nurturing of B2B or professional communities, CloserStill Media operates B2B events across a wide range of sub-vertical sectors within business technologies, healthcare, future transport, and infrastructure.
Zooming in: Held annually in rotating locations, PARCEL Forum joins CloserStill’s more than 25 North American trade shows and conferences that each serve a fast-growth sector, including Cloud Expo, Ai4, New York Vet, and Hydrogen Technology Expo.
Zooming out: The event’s market segment is no stranger to CloserStill, which also owns and operates global events aligned with PARCEL Forum’s focus on supply chain optimization and technology-driven logistics. These include Parcel+Post Expo (Amsterdam) and flagship eCommerce events such as CommerceNext’s Growth Show (New York City) and eCommerce Expo (London).
Held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas, PARCEL Forum 2024 broke previous attendance and exhibitor records with 1,725 attendees and 135 exhibitors (a 13% and 14% increase from 2023, respectively).
What the buyer is saying: “PARCEL Forum has established itself as the go-to event for the small-package fulfilment ecosystem in the U.S., known for delivering insights, quality content and a vibrant experience,” said CloserStill President, North America Yancy Weinrich. “Over the past two decades, it has become a trusted platform for the industry to learn, connect, and drive innovation. With our proven record of scaling content-rich, community-first events, we’re excited to support PARCEL Forum’s next phase – working alongside the existing team and opening new opportunities through our wider global network.”
Looking ahead: Set for September 8-10 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Chicago, PARCEL Forum ’25 will feature a sold-out exhibit floor with 135 industry-leading companies and approximately 2,000 small-package supply chain professionals from across the U.S.
What the seller is saying: “For the past 23 years, we have built an incredible event focused on bringing together the package fulfilment industry to network, learn, and meet with leading companies that can help attendees apply best practices into their package fulfilment supply chains,” said Joel Dunkel, president of EventEvolution Management, Inc., speaking on behalf of PARCEL Forum.
Deeper dive: Nick Curci of Westport, Conn.-based Corporate Solutions was the exclusive advisor to PARCEL Forum in arranging, structuring, and negotiating this transaction.
Business Strategies Group (BSG) Announces Transfer of Ownership
Business Strategies Group (BSG), a Hong Kong-based business intelligence and strategy consulting firm focused on the Asian business media, information, and B2B events industry, will soon be under new ownership. In an agreement expected to be completed in March 2027, Founder Paul Woodward has agreed to transfer ownership to Mark Cochrane, BSG’s current managing director. The process will take place in phases, with Woodward to remain BSG’s chairman and senior advisor.
Paul Woodward
Context: Established in 2020, BSG has provided research and advisory services to more than 200 international businesses and government organizations and currently runs the Asia-Pacific office for UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, for which Cochrane serves as regional director. Additionally, Cochrane started working with BSG as a consultant in 2006, taking over as managing director in 2010 when Woodward moved to Paris to serve as UFI’s CEO, a role he held until the end of 2015.
What they’re saying: “Mark Cochrane and his great team have been running BSG on a day-to-day basis for quite a few years now,” Woodward explained. “As I begin to step back from active consulting work, this is the ideal arrangement for the company, its team, and its clients. I couldn’t be happier with the plan and am confident that there’s a bright future for BSG as it starts its next 25 years.”
Mark Cochrane
How it works: With clients including exhibition organisers, venues, private equity funds, and government bodies (such as CVBs and tourism boards), BSG’s services include business development strategy, competitive intelligence, portfolio analysis, feasibility studies, launch planning, and commercial due diligence. The firm also provides representation services, having managed UFI’s Asia-Pacific operations since 2004, as well as exhibition-related activities in Greater China for the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) since 2006.
Why it matters: “BSG has built an amazing reputation since [Woodward] founded the company for providing high-quality advice based on our unique event database and many years of experience working in the exhibition and business events industry,” Cochrane said. “I’m also happy that Paul has agreed to remain in an advisory role as Chairman as we address the many challenges and opportunities in this fast-changing market.”
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