Longtime Trade Show Executive Joins Investment Bank

New York—An executive with nearly 40 years’ experience in trade shows has joined Berkery Noyes, an independent, mid-market investment bank.

David Loechner is now managing director at Berkery Noyes, the bank announced last week. 

Loechner was president of Nielsen Expositions in 2013, the arm of the Nielsen Company that owned and operated trade shows, including Couture and the JA New York shows. 

He headed the $950 million sale of Nielsen Expositions to private equity firm Onex Corp. and became CEO of the newly named Emerald Expositions, an independent organization with more than 500 employees in 10 U.S. offices. (Emerald Expositions also owned National Jeweler before selling the publication to Jewelers of America in 2015.) 

Following the sale, the company more than doubled in size, due largely in part to the completion of more than 16 acquisitions in five years, and Loechner was at the helm when it went public in 2017. 

Now known as just Emerald, the company is the largest business-to-business trade show, conference and event operator in the United States. 

After leaving Emerald, Loechner founded DLJ Events, a media and events advisory and management firm. 

Loechner holds a bachelor’s in business administration and management from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. 

In a news release announcing his hire, the bank said Loechner brings extensive operational, capital markets and M&A experience to the role.

“As we reaffirm our long-standing history and commitment to covering the trade show and events marketplace, David adds a wealth of knowledge that will help achieve superior outcomes for our clients,” said James Berkery, managing partner at Berkery Noyes. 

“Being on the buy side for so long and seeing dozens of prospective acquisitions cross his desk annually, in addition to his hands-on experience operating over 150 events and media products each year in this sector, David knows what makes individual properties attractive.” 

Loechner said: “I couldn’t be more pleased to join such an experienced and engaged senior team at Berkery Noyes. I aim to be a proven, experienced, and trusted resource for elevating and increasing our client’s success at such a pivotal time in the events and media industry.”