William Reed Group, the global media company serving the agri-tech, food, beverage, retail and hospitality sectors, has announced the appointment of Tracy De Groose as its new Chief Executive Officer, reporting into Charles Reed.

De Groose brings a wealth of leadership experience and industry expertise to the role, marking a significant milestone in William Reed’s growth and strategic direction.

In her new role, De Groose will oversee all aspects of William Reed’s global operations, including its portfolio of brands, digital platforms, exhibitions and events.

Previously De Groose served as CEO of Dentsu UK, where she led the business through a period of rapid growth and digital evolution, and most recently, as Executive Chair of Newsworks, the news publishing industry’s marketing body.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tracy to William Reed” said Charles Reed. “Tracy will be our first non-family CEO. Her proven track record of scaling brands and businesses, and her people-first mindset to leading change will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our business to meet the needs of our dynamic industries. Tracy’s appointment reflects our commitment to investing in leadership that enhances our long-term growth strategy.”

Commenting on her appointment, De Groose said, “William Reed has a 160-year commitment to its purpose, its people, and the clients and audiences it serves. It has some incredibly strong brands, like The Grocer and World’s 50 Best. Over the last 20 years, the team have been successfully transforming the business during a period of significant digital disruption to deliver impressive growth and exceptional value for its customers. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to help shape the next stage of its growth.”

She will take over from Charles Reed, who will become Chair, when Mark Allin steps down at the end of the year. Reed will support and work with De Groose to continue the development of the business, liaising between the Board and Family shareholders to develop strong governance and succession planning and will play an ambassadorial role, representing the business and family where appropriate.