Nineteen Group, the parent company of the Retail Technology Show, has acquired The Lead, a North American based portfolio of brand and retail events and forums.

The acquisition accelerates Nineteen Group’s expansion in the U.S., further strengthening its presence across core verticals, including the retail sector and consumer brands.

“This acquisition reflects our approach to supporting founder-led events with strong leadership and real community impact,” said Peter Jones, CEO of Nineteen Group. “The Lead’s momentum in the U.S. market and clarity of purpose make it a compelling addition to the Group.”

The Lead’s flagship event, The Lead Summit in New York, attracts more than 3,000 senior executives across brand, retail, technology, strategy, marketing, ecommerce and customer experience.

Additional events in the Lead portfolio include The Direct 60 Forum, The D60 NEXT Forum and The Foremost 50 Forum, alongside editorial research assets, such as the Foremost 50 List, Direct 60 List and D60 NEXT Lists, as well as weekly industry news round-up publication, The Indicator.

The Lead will continue to operate under its existing brands and will remain focused on growing its flagship events while expanding its forum series.

“The Lead was created to elevate the conversation for senior leaders who are shaping the future of brands and retail,” said Noah Gellman, CEO of The Lead.

“Joining Nineteen Group gives us the ability to scale our core events, deepen engagement with our audience and expand thoughtfully into new markets while preserving the quality and relevance that sets The Lead apart.”

The Lead joins a roster of leading global retail events under the Nineteen Group Umbrella, including Retail Technology Show (RTS), the UK’s flagship retail event.

Taking place on 22 & 23 April 2026 at London’s ExCeL, RTS will welcome 16,000+ senior retailers to the flagship event, showcasing insight from the vanguards of the retail sector alongside the cutting-edge tech that’s reshaping the market and keeping retailers at the forefront of innovation.