Hero Media & Entertainment announces acquisition of KD Media

Mark Hollinshead
Credit: DB Media Services

KD Media’s portfolio includes flagship events such as the Scottish Legal Awards, Scottish Home Awards, Scottish Property Awards, Scottish Whisky Awards, Scottish Gin Awards and the In Whisky annual conference, each widely recognised for celebrating excellence and convening influential audiences across Scotland’s legal, property, hospitality and business sectors.

The acquisition significantly strengthens Hero Media & Entertainment Ltd’s strategy to build a fully integrated media and events platform. 

It follows a series of recent acquisitions by the company, including Scottish Legal News, Scottish Housing News, Scottish Construction Now, Scottish Financial News, Irish Legal News, Daily Business group and the Scottish Construction Summit event.

By combining these established news brands with KD Media’s market-leading events, Hero Media will offer a unique, multi-channel platform that connects audiences through trusted journalism and high-quality in-person experiences.

Mark Hollinshead, CEO of Hero Media & Entertainment Ltd, said: “The acquisition of KD Media is transformational for our business. We have assembled a portfolio of leading news brands across Scotland, and with the addition of KD Media’s outstanding events, we can now bring those audiences together in powerful new ways.

“Our vision is to create a modern media business where content and live experiences work hand in hand to inform, connect and celebrate our industries. I’m delighted to welcome Kirsten and her team of world class event professionals into the Hero Media and Entertainment fold.”

Kirsten Speirs, managing director of KD Media, added: “KD Media has always been about bringing people together to recognise achievement and build relationships. Joining Hero Media & Entertainment gives us the scale and support to grow our events further, while benefiting from the reach and influence of its news platforms.”

As part of the transaction, Ms Speirs will remain with the business as MD of Hero Media Events and take a leading role in shaping Hero Media & Entertainment Ltd’s event development strategy, ensuring continued growth and innovation across its expanding portfolio of live experiences.

Under the new ownership, KD Media will continue to deliver its established awards programmes while exploring opportunities to expand into new sectors and formats. The combined group will focus on year-round audience engagement, enhanced commercial partnerships and the development of new event concepts aligned with its growing media portfolio.

The KD Media acquisition reinforces Hero Media & Entertainment Ltd’s ambition to become a leading UK media business at the intersection of digital publishing and live events.