2021 Annual Report:
Digital & Data Acceleration
Read about the latest developments at Informa including our 2021 financial results, the 2021-2024 Growth Acceleration Plan II, the activities of our Board and many customer and colleague highlights in our 2021 Annual Report
Growth Acceleration
Group Chief Executive Review
Informa entered 2021 with stability, strength and the clear goal of returning to long-term sustainable growth. 12 months on, we have delivered a resilient performance and embarked on an ambitious programme of growth, investment and digital acceleration: GAP II.
Board Leadership & Development
Chair’s introduction to Governance
The full focus of the Board and leadership team is now on GAP II and acceleration in all areas. This includes accelerating growth and returns for shareholders.
Growth Acceleration Plan II
Market specialisation has been at the heart of Informa’s strategy for the last seven years.
Our strategy through to 2024 is to continue to deepen our market specialisation and accelerate digitisation in all areas of the business.
We are delivering this through the 2021-2024 Growth Acceleration Plan II. This six-part plan will bring us closer to customers and create a better quality, higher growth and higher value business, with a broader range of opportunities for future growth and success.
2021 Financial Results
2021 was a transition year for Informa. The focus gradually shifted from the stability and security established after the impact of the pandemic in 2020, to revitalisation and growth through the launch of GAP II.
At a Group level, we delivered improving revenues, profits and cash flow.
Taylor & Francis and Informa Intelligence grew on an underlying basis throughout the year. Our B2B Markets businesses saw the benefit of a progressive increase in physical events and the continued development of our digital services.
This improving performance led the Board to confirm the intention to resume ordinary dividends at the time of the 2022 interim dividend.
Revenue
Underlying revenue growth
Adjusted operating profit
Statutory operating profit
Free cash flow
Net debt
Key Trends in Our Market
Market specialisation
Market specialisation
The end markets we work in are becoming ever more specialist, with highly focused and often innovative and dynamic subsectors and subcategories being created.
Hear from Taylor & Francis's Chief Marketing Officer, Lisa Mahan, on how we are supporting experts across different specialisms in a deeper way.
The value of B2B customer data
The value of B2B customer data
In B2B markets, where purchasing decisions are typically longer and more complex than in consumer markets, the combination of rapid digitisation and changing behaviour is creating new opportunities.
Read more about the creation of our IIRIS customer data engine from Max Gabriel, President of IIRIS.
The power of face to face
The power of face to face
The experience of the pandemic has shown both how powerful digital platforms can be for certain activities, and the distinct advantages and enduring value that in-person, face-to-face connection brings.
Hear from senior leaders from Informa Markets on how customers have returned to live events in China to renew their business connections.
The digitisation of knowledge
The digitisation of knowledge
Advances in technology and changes in customer behaviour have expanded the opportunities for delivering knowledge in more impactful and valuable ways.
Learn about how our Informa Tech research brand, Omdia, is investing to maximise impact and value for customers.
We continue to make progress in our FasterForward programme and in embedding sustainability ever more deeply throughout the business.
Informa was ranked top of the global media sector in 2021 by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and our performance is increasingly recognised by a range of leading third party ratings.
Colleagues and Culture
Our culture and our colleagues are what makes Informa tick.
Find out about how we focus on creating professional and personal opportunities for everyone and supporting an environment where everyone can fully participate and have a say.
2021 Governance at a glance
Board Composition
Board Gender Balance
Board Nationality
Board Age
Non-Executive Director Tenure
Digital and Data Spotlight
Data & analytics engine
Introducing IIRIS
In 2021 we created IIRIS, a centralised data and analytics engine for all Informa's B2B customer data.
IIRIS is helping us make full use of the first-party customer data we hold to improve our products, create more value for customers and develop new digital demand generation services.
Lead generation
Connecting Aviation businesses with customers
Using our first-party audience database, Informa’s Aviation team developed a multi-year, multi-channel lead generation solution based on specialist content and data, successfully connecting a major Aviation conglomerate with highly targeted and qualified leads.
Audience development
Deepening Tech audiences with NetLine
In 2021, we welcomed NetLine to Informa, a specialist in generating B2B leads by taking high quality syndicated content from customers and publishers and using it to make impactful connections with audiences.
Open research
Expanding our Open Research reach
F1000 is a leader in open research, which uses the power of digital to open up the research process. In 2021, F1000 was asked to set up and manage an open research platform for Horizon Europe, the European Commission’s €95bn research and innovation programme.
Previous Annual Reports
2020 Annual Report
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2019 Annual Report
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2018 Annual Report
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