Chairman
Tom Kemp joined Northstar Travel Group in January 2009. He
has a unique combination of experience as a senior operating executive and
private equity investor in business-to-business information, events, and media.
Tom has provided the strategic vision and leadership to transform Northstar to
the leading high growth, multiplatform, information, marketing solutions and
e-commerce Company serving the global travel industry.
In 2008, Kemp founded Oakstreet Media, a company formed to
invest in and acquire lower-middle market business-to-business media and
information companies. From 2004 to 2008, Tom was a Managing Director at
Veronis Suhler Stevenson, a leading private equity firm investing in the media
and communications industry. Prior to VSS, he was the Chairman and CEO of
Penton Media Inc., an NYSE listed public company and one of the largest
business-to-business information companies in the U.S. Prior to Penton, Tom was
President and COO of Miller Freeman Inc. a market-leading business to-business
information, events and media company headquartered in San Francisco.
Kemp has extensive experience in sourcing, negotiating,
closing, and integrating more than 100 transactions in his career as well as
successful exits. Kemp has experience as a public company CEO including
successful execution of equity, high yield bond, and senior secured debt
offerings.
Tom is currently a board member of SISO, The Society of Show
Operators, the leading global association for event and exhibition for-profit
producers. He was recently a board
member of Destinations International, the global association for destinations
and CVBs, as well as Connectiv, the association for B-to-B marketing services
and information providers. Tom has previously served on the boards of several
business media companies and industry associations, including American Business
Media, SIIA, and BPA International. In June 2010, Tom was honored as the CEO
Top Innovator in business publishing by BtoB Magazine. Kemp was honored by
American Business Media as the 2014 McAllister Top Management Fellow. Kemp was
named a C-Level Visionary by the 2015 Folio: 100 Honorees. Tom was inducted into the B-to-B Media Hall of Fame in
February 2023.
Tom received his BA with honors from Amherst College; he
lives with his family in Mill Valley, California.
