KB Event has completed a private equity-backed management buy-out (MBO), reshaping its ownership and leadership as of 17 April 2026.
Founded in 1992 by Stuart McPherson, the Nottingham-based company is a specialist in event transport, storage and logistics, delivering complex global solutions for high-profile clients.
Operating out of the UK and Ireland, KB Event supports concerts, world tours, festivals, exhibitions and corporate events with trucking, managed logistics, storage, project management and customs services.
The business continues to lead on sustainable transport, reducing the environmental impact of live events through innovations such as HVO and electric trucks. This commitment has been recognised with IQ Magazine’s Green Guardians award (2022 and 2024) and the 2025 Greener Innovations Award for its use of fully electric HGVs on Sam Fender’s People Watching tour.
The MBO is led by CEO Richard Burnett, alongside his leadership team, including Sales Director Matt Jackson, who has a reputation for building strong, long-term client relationships in the live events sector.
Burnett brings over 41 years’ experience in logistics, including senior roles at Wincanton, Samworth Bros, and seven years as Chief Executive of the Road Haulage Association, before joining KB Event in 2022.
The board is further strengthened by investor Bob Harbey, who spent over 30 years as a major shareholder and director at Microlise. Harbey previously worked with Burnett as co-founders of ‘Road to Logistics’, a non-profit set up to provide fully funded programmes across the UK that help people facing barriers to employment to obtain the skills and qualifications needed to build a successful career in logistics.
H2 Equity Partners joins as a major co-investor, bringing significant financial backing alongside deep operational expertise to support KB Event’s next phase of growth.
McPherson retains a minority shareholding and remains an advisor to the board. Burnett commented: “Today marks a significant milestone in the thirty plus year history of KB Event. We would all like to thank Stuart and his wife Leanne for all of the years of hard work and dedication they have put into KB Event since it’s founding. Stuart has a reputation second to none in the live events sector and he has been instrumental in building a highly successful company with an unparalleled reputation for service, adaptability & innovation. The new leadership team have exciting plans for the future – we will be focused on pushing the company to new heights, not only in terms of how and where we operate, but also in extending the range of services we offer to our clients. It is our goal to become the logistics partner of choice to the live entertainment industry, trusted to consistently deliver world-class supply chain services globally”.
