Centaur Media
Centaur Media is a London-based business information, events and marketing-services group serving professional and commercial audiences.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Centaur Media is a United Kingdom business-to-business media and information company formed in 1981 by Graham Sherren. Historically, the group was best known for controlled-circulation trade magazines, including Marketing Week, The Engineer and The Lawyer. Its traditional publishing model was funded largely by display advertising, classified advertising and recruitment advertising, with editorial products distributed to defined professional audiences rather than sold primarily through consumer newsstands. The company evolved substantially as print advertising weakened, digital publishing expanded and professional audiences increasingly expected specialized data, research, training and networking. During the 2010s, Centaur described itself as moving from a collection of relatively independent publishing businesses toward a more integrated business-information group. The transformation involved restructuring, investment in events and information products, portfolio disposals and a greater reliance on digital subscriptions, premium content and professional services. Andria Vidler became chief executive in November 2013 and led a strategy intended to reduce dependence on tactical trade advertising. Under her leadership, Centaur placed greater emphasis on information-led digital products, events and marketing services. The company also reshaped its portfolio through acquisitions and disposals. It acquired the marketing-services business MarketMakers in 2017 and brand consultancy Oystercatchers in 2016, while selling its home-interest portfolio to Future plc. In 2018 and 2019, it disposed of several non-core divisions, including financial services, human resources, travel and meetings, and engineering assets. In January 2019, Centaur brought a number of marketing and creative properties together under the Xeim identity. Xeim included brands and activities associated with Creative Review, Design Week, Econsultancy, Marketing Week and Oystercatchers. The group's other principal operating area became The Lawyer, a specialist legal-information and professional-events business. This structure reflected Centaur's focus on two professional ecosystems: marketing and communications through Xeim, and legal services through The Lawyer. The company's portfolio changes also illustrate a shift from broad trade publishing toward more focused communities and professional information products. In 2017, its revenue mix was reported as including events, digital premium content, digital advertising, marketing services and print, with events and digital activities representing a larger share than in 2014. The group sold or closed businesses where management judged that the assets no longer fit its strategic priorities. MarketMakers, for example, was closed in 2020 during the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, while Really B2B was retained. Leadership changed again in September 2019, when Vidler stepped down and former chief financial officer Swag Mukerji became chief executive. Centaur also moved its London offices from Fitzrovia to South Bank in December 2019. Its business model has continued to center on specialist media brands, subscription and premium information, professional events, marketing services and audience communities rather than mass-market consumer publishing. Because the supplied reference material does not provide a complete current corporate profile, exact present-day ownership, website, financial position and executive roster should be independently checked before publication.
History
Centaur Media was established in 1981 by Graham Sherren and developed as a business-to-business publisher serving defined professional sectors. Its early identity was closely associated with specialist magazines such as Marketing Week, The Engineer and The Lawyer. These titles generally operated through controlled circulation, allowing advertisers to reach selected professional audiences. Revenue came from display advertising, classified advertising and recruitment advertising, while editorial independence was presented as a core part of the publishing proposition. The recession and the longer-term migration of advertising and professional information to digital channels forced Centaur to reconsider its structure. During Geoff Wilmot's tenure as chief executive, beginning in 2006, the group was described as a federation or archipelago of smaller businesses. The company subsequently pursued restructuring and invested in exhibitions and information services. Wilmot left in June 2013, alongside Tim Potter, managing director of the business publishing division. A proposed bid by Wilmot for the company was later abandoned. Andria Vidler became chief executive in November 2013. She inherited a business facing substantial losses and debt, according to contemporary reporting, and set out to reposition it as a business-information group rather than a company dependent mainly on tactical trade advertising. The strategy emphasized digital subscriptions, premium information, events and marketing services. By 2017, the reported revenue mix showed events and digital premium content as major contributors, alongside digital advertising, marketing services and a smaller print component. This represented a significant change from the more print- and advertising-oriented mix reported in 2014. Portfolio management became a central feature of the transformation. Centaur acquired Oystercatchers in 2016, adding a specialist brand consultancy, and bought MarketMakers in 2017 to expand its business-to-business marketing-services capability. In the same year, it sold its Home Interest portfolio to Future plc. The divested properties included Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living and Real Homes. In 2018 and 2019, Centaur conducted a broader disposal program. It sold its financial-services division to Metropolis Group, including Money Marketing, Mortgage Strategy, Platforum, Taxbriefs and Headline Money. It also agreed sales of its travel and meetings business to Northstar Travel Media UK, its human-resources portfolio to DVV Media International, and its engineering portfolio to Mark Allen Group. These transactions reduced the breadth of the group and concentrated its activities around marketing and communications and legal information. The marketing and communications activities were reorganized under the Xeim name in January 2019. The name brought together properties and services associated with Creative Review, Design Week, Econsultancy, Marketing Week and Oystercatchers. The Lawyer remained the principal legal-sector operation. Centaur's events strategy also changed: in 2019, Festival of Marketing was expanded to incorporate Marketing Week Live and The Insight Show. The Festival later moved to a digital format in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vidler announced her departure in September 2019 and was succeeded by Swag Mukerji, a former chief financial officer. The company relocated its London base from Fitzrovia to South Bank in December 2019. During the pandemic, Centaur announced the closure of MarketMakers while retaining Really B2B. The available reference material identifies Centaur's continuing model as a combination of specialist professional media, digital information, events and marketing services, but does not establish a complete current account of ownership, management, financial performance or operating geography.
- 2020
MarketMakers is closed
[1]Centaur closes MarketMakers during the COVID-19 pandemic while retaining Really B2B.
- 2019
Xeim is introduced
[1]Centaur consolidates several marketing and creative brands under the Xeim identity.
- 2019
Major portfolio disposals
[1]Centaur sells or agrees to sell its financial-services, travel and meetings, human-resources and engineering portfolios.
- 2019
Swag Mukerji becomes chief executive
[1]Swag Mukerji succeeds Andria Vidler as chief executive.
- 2017
MarketMakers acquisition and Home Interest disposal
[1]Centaur acquires MarketMakers and sells its Home Interest portfolio to Future plc.
- 2016
Oystercatchers acquisition
[1]Centaur acquires Oystercatchers, expanding its marketing and communications-services capabilities.
- 2013
Andria Vidler becomes chief executive
[1]Vidler takes over as chief executive and launches a strategy centered on business information, digital products, events and marketing services.
- 2006
Geoff Wilmot becomes chief executive
[1]Geoff Wilmot begins a period of leadership during which Centaur addresses restructuring and the transition from print publishing toward broader information and events activities.
- 1981
Centaur Media is founded
[1]Graham Sherren establishes Centaur Media as a business-to-business publishing company.
Products and positioning
A specialist business-to-business information, events and marketing-services group focused on professional communities in marketing, communications and legal services.
Marketing and communications platform · 2019
Xeim
Xeim is the umbrella identity introduced for Centaur's marketing and creative activities. It brought together specialist media, research, consultancy and community assets associated with Creative Review, Design Week, Econsultancy, Marketing Week and Oystercatchers. The platform reflects Centaur's move toward integrated professional information and marketing services rather than standalone print titles.
Legal information and professional media
The Lawyer
The Lawyer is Centaur's specialist legal-sector business. It serves legal professionals through journalism, business information, events and community-oriented offerings. It became one of the group's two principal operating areas after Centaur reduced its exposure to several other professional publishing sectors.
Marketing publication and information service
Marketing Week
Marketing Week is a specialist brand serving marketing professionals. It originated within Centaur's trade-publishing portfolio and became part of the Xeim marketing and communications grouping. Its role has extended beyond traditional print publishing toward digital editorial, professional insight, events and audience engagement.
Creative-industry publication and community
Creative Review
Creative Review is a specialist media and community brand for the creative industries. Under Xeim, it forms part of Centaur's marketing and communications portfolio.
Design-industry publication and information service
Design Week
Design Week is a professional design-sector brand included in Centaur's Xeim grouping. It provides specialist editorial and industry information for design professionals and related commercial audiences.
Digital marketing information and training
Econsultancy
Econsultancy is a digital marketing information and professional-development brand within the Xeim portfolio. Its proposition is based on practical insight, research, training and resources for organizations working in digital marketing and customer experience.
Marketing event
Festival of Marketing
Festival of Marketing is Centaur's flagship marketing event. In 2019 it was expanded to incorporate Marketing Week Live and The Insight Show. The event subsequently adopted a digital format in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted physical conferences and exhibitions.
B2B marketing services · 2017
MarketMakers
MarketMakers was a UK business-to-business marketing-services company acquired by Centaur in 2017. Centaur announced its closure in 2020 during the pandemic, while retaining the related Really B2B business.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Festival of Marketing expansion
United Kingdom
Xeim expanded Festival of Marketing by incorporating Marketing Week Live and The Insight Show, creating a broader professional marketing event.
Outcome. The event later moved to a digital format in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brand decisions
2020
Closure of MarketMakersStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic placed pressure on business events and marketing-services activity.
Action taken
Centaur announced that MarketMakers would close while Really B2B was retained.
Aftermath
The decision narrowed Centaur's marketing-services operations during the pandemic period.
2019
Consolidation of marketing businesses under XeimStrategyBackground
Centaur was shifting from a broad collection of publishing assets toward a more integrated business-information and marketing-services model.
Action taken
The company grouped Creative Review, Design Week, Econsultancy, Marketing Week and Oystercatchers under the Xeim identity.
Aftermath
Xeim became the principal umbrella for Centaur's marketing and communications activities.
2019
Disposal of the financial-services divisionM&ABackground
Centaur was concentrating its portfolio on marketing, communications and legal information.
Action taken
The financial-services division was sold to Metropolis Group for reported cash consideration of £5 million.
Aftermath
Money Marketing, Mortgage Strategy, Platforum, Taxbriefs and Headline Money left the Centaur portfolio.
Cash consideration. £5 million (Announced 1 April 2019)
2019
Disposal of travel and meetings businessM&ABackground
Centaur was reducing non-core activities and focusing on selected professional markets.
Action taken
Centaur agreed to sell Centaur Media Travel and Meetings, including Business Travel Show and The Meetings Show, to Northstar Travel Media UK.
Aftermath
The transaction was expected to complete by the end of April 2019.
Cash consideration. £9.25 million (Announced 10 April 2019)
2019
Disposal of engineering portfolioM&ABackground
Centaur continued to streamline its professional publishing and events portfolio.
Action taken
The Engineer and the Subcon show were included in a sale to Mark Allen Group.
Aftermath
The engineering assets left Centaur following the expected completion of the transaction in May 2019.
Cash consideration. £2.5 million (Announced 9 May 2019)
Recent events
- 2020
MarketMakers business closed during COVID-19 disruption[1]
Other
Centaur announced the closure of MarketMakers during the pandemic, while retaining its sister company Really B2B.
- 2019
Marketing businesses consolidated under Xeim[1]
Other
Centaur grouped several marketing and creative businesses under the Xeim identity, including Creative Review, Design Week, Econsultancy, Marketing Week and Oystercatchers.
- 2019
Centaur sells financial-services division[1]
M&A
The financial-services portfolio, including Money Marketing, Mortgage Strategy, Platforum, Taxbriefs and Headline Money, was sold to Metropolis Group.
- 2019
Centaur sells travel and meetings businesses[1]
M&A
Centaur agreed to sell Centaur Media Travel and Meetings, including Business Travel Show and The Meetings Show, to Northstar Travel Media UK.
- 2019
Centaur sells human-resources portfolio[1]
M&A
Centaur Human Resources, including Employee Benefits and related events and communities, was sold to DVV Media International.
- 2019
Centaur sells engineering portfolio[1]
M&A
The Engineer and the Subcon exhibition were included in a sale of Centaur's engineering portfolio to Mark Allen Group.
- 2019
Andria Vidler steps down as chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Andria Vidler left the chief executive role and was succeeded by former finance chief Swag Mukerji.
- 2017
Centaur sells home-interest portfolio to Future[1]
M&A
The company sold Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living and Real Homes to Future plc as part of portfolio rationalization.
- 2017
Centaur acquires MarketMakers[1]
M&A
Centaur bought the UK business-to-business marketing-services company MarketMakers.
- 2016
Centaur acquires Oystercatchers[1]
M&A
Centaur Media acquired the brand consultancy Oystercatchers, strengthening its marketing and communications-services portfolio.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/centaur-media · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled