MD Mclaughlin leaves Grass Roots M&E

Grass Roots has announced that the MD of its Meetings & Events division, Des Mclaughlin, is to leave the organisation. McLaughlin, who has led the combined Grass Roots Meetings & Events UK business since October 2013, has decided to leave the company to pursue other opportunities. He commented: “I am proud to have led M&E since I was appointed MD of the division in 2013. In that time we have consolidated our UK Meetings and Events activities into a coherent business, which adds significantly greater value to our clients, has more strategic relationships with our suppliers, and had some really exciting client wins. I am leaving the Meetings & Events business stronger than at any time in Grass Roots’ history and wish the team well in continuing to build the success and taking it to the next phase.” Richard Bandell CEO Grass Roots Group PLC, added: “I want to record my sincere thanks to Des for his leadership and contribution for bringing together the separate Meetings & Events businesses and his contribution to their turnaround. We wish him every success for the future”. The company said also it would be appointing a new director “very shortly”, adding: “It is very much business as usual as we plan for a successful year in 2016”. Grass Roots acquired Mclaughlin’s HBI agency in 2008.