Athene Publishing Limited, specialist publishing and events provider to the UK Credit, Asset Finance, Business Recovery and Payroll sectors, has been acquired by Shard Media Group Limited for an undisclosed sum.
Athene has a long-established reputation for providing B2B events, magazines and digital media including Credit Today Magazine, The Credit Summit, the Credit Today Awards, the I&R Awards and the Payroll World brand.
Luke Broadhurst, managing director of Shard, commented: “Athene is a recognised leader in its markets and this acquisition is the first phase of our strategy for a financial services media business – we have exciting plans for Athene and I’m looking forward to working with a great team of professionals to build on its success”.
Broadhurst has been closely involved in financial services media for many years, having previously been managing director of Incisive Media’s mortgage division, run his own boutique media VC, Base Camp Media, and headed private equity for board community Criticaleye.
Kamala Panday, publishing director and co-founder of Athene, will remain on the board with special responsibility for product development and content. Fellow co-founder Chris Fitzgerald will continue as a consultant to Athene’s Payroll portfolio but is leaving the board to concentrate on her recruitment business, Chase Moulande.
Panday commented: “Chris and I have enjoyed considerable success in building the Credit Today, Insolvency News/I&R Awards and Payroll World brands over the last 17 years. We have a great range of market leading products and a highly talented team but it’s now time to accelerate Athene’s growth, both organically and by further acquisitions. This deal and the resource and experience that Shard will bring represents a great opportunity for our company going forward.”