APP (Asociación de Prensa Profesional), the Spanish B2B media association has changed its name to Coneqtia, and held a re-launching event at the end of November in Barcelona.

The new name is intended to make it clear that the association now welcomes all communicators regardless of media platform utilised, who are in the business of connecting information providers and users as well as buyers and sellers of products and services in any business segment. 

Under the leadership of its president, Miguel Vila and secretary, Maria Rosa Pons i Vilarasau, APP has a history of bold action, having hosted a very successful FIPP International B2B Conference in Barcelona in 2004 – a major undertaking for a relatively small association with limited resources. In addition to the relaunch event, the association also hosted the quarterly meeting of FAEP and brought in important public officials from Madrid to encourage a more active participation by Spain in critical EU media issues.

The relaunch event itself featured the former FIPP president and CEO, Donald Kummerfeld, who gave a presentation entitled: Transforming B2B Media: A Progress Report. Kummerfeld said he believes there will be a weak and prolonged economic recovery lasting well into 2010 and possibly well beyond, but previous levels of revenue from print advertising and tradeshows are not likely to return. So B2B media companies have no choice but to search for new sources of revenue both for the short and long terms.  Traditional B2B companies should be practical and learn from what is working or not working for the largest and most sophisticated B2B companies who are out in front in the transformational process.