Clarion Events, organiser of the Mortgage Business Expo, has issued legal proceedings against former employee James Prosser and his company Front Events, which is organising rival industry trade fair the Financial Services Expo.
In a statement, Clarion says it is seeking “an urgent order of the court in relation to duties owed by the former employee to Clarion Events”. Prosser previously worked for Clarion running the two annual MBEs in Manchester and London, having joined the company in 2010. He left in May.
MBE organisers were unable to comment further pending the resolution of the proceedings but Clarion has confirmed the legal action will have no effect on its upcoming event which is due to take place at London’s ExCel Centre on the 13 and 14 November.
Prosser declined to comment.
FSE, MBE and another event called the Finance Professional Show are also set to take place between October and November this year.
Money Marketing’s sister publication Mortgage Strategy’s spoke to both Prosser and MBE about their upcoming events earlier this month.
MBE 2013 sales co-ordinator Mike Mikunda argued MBE was ready to compete against the other two events.
He said: “Once in a while the incumbent probably needs a kick up the backside. You can get a bit comfortable if you are the only show in town.”
Prosser said there was “a real need for a show like FSE, with support in the market phenomenal”.
