A leader who made a wide-ranging and lasting impact on Reed Exhibitions passed away at age 74 on Dec. 30, 2014.
As the company’s past president and chief operating officer, Philip Ullo grew Reed to new heights. It became one of the world’s largest organizers of exhibitions, operating over 300 events in 26 countries serving 38 industries.
Ullo began his career in the exhibition industry in 1968, with the Kiver Organization, a Chicago-based publisher and show producer. Over a 12-year period, he increased the number of exhibitions on a worldwide basis from one to 33 while expanding its operations in the U.S. and establishing operations in the U.K., Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, before being acquired by Reed.
He retired from Reed in January 1995, but he didn’t stay in retirement too long. He launched Ullo International Exhibition Group and had retired by 2000.
Active in the tradeshow industry for 31 years, Ullo was a member of the board of directors for Trade Show Bureau (TSB), now CEIR.
According to former CEIR President and CEO Douglas Ducate, Don Freeman and Ullo drove TSB’s name change to CEIR in 1993 to accurately reflect what the organization actually did.
Ullo was a beloved father, husband and grandfather. Born in Chicago on March 30, 1940, to Philip and Ida Ullo, he later attended St. Joseph’s College and DePaul University Law School.
He is preceded in life by sister, Cecilia. He is survived by wife, Georgia; children, David, (Jeanine), Daniel, (Desiree), and Kristine; grandchildren, Jake, Bella and Matt.
