Incisive News

Tim Weller, chief executive of Incisive Media, has been appointed chairman of PPA Professional, the organisation representing professional and business media in the UK.  He replaces Bernard Gray, chief executive of TSL Education, who stepped down in October this year.

Weller has a long established career in publishing, having begun as a salesman at VNU Business Publications in 1982. He was subsequently a director of Centaur Publishing, and managing director of Reuters Publishing.  He founded Incisive Media, with the launch of Investment Week in 1995.

PPA Professional has also appointed Martin Durham, chairman and managing director of Haymarket Business Publications Ltd, as deputy chairman.

Tim Weller commented: “It is an honour to be appointed to chair PPA Professional as I am passionate about this industry. Make no mistake, the UK is the world leader in professional media and we set the global standard for quality in print, event and online sectors. Professional media engage with and deliver vital audiences for our customers. But we must continually promote this message.  PPA Professional must also engage fully with its own members and I intend to go back to basics to ensure our whole industry does everything it can to fly the flag.”

Says PPA chief executive Ian Locks: “We are delighted to welcome Tim Weller on board and we know that with his invaluable experience and knowledge of the industry his contribution will be a great asset to PPA Professional.  I am sure I speak on behalf of all business publishers when I say we very much look forward to working with Tim as he takes up his position.”

In November Weller was awarded the top industry honour - the PPA’s Marcus Morris Award – for his significant and long-standing contribution to the magazine publishing business. As the 16th winner, Weller was commended for his passion for business and professional media.  He has grown Incisive Media from employing 13 people ten years ago to over 550 today, with offices in London, New York and Hong Kong and annual revenues approaching £65 million.  According to those who nominated him for the award: “No other individual has achieved as much in business publishing.”

About PPA Professional

The business division of the trade body PPA (Periodical Publishers Association), PPA Professional relaunched in May 2005 (formerly PPA B2B). Its main aim is to promote the skills and strengths of today's professional media (including magazines, directories, DM, online services, conferences and exhibitions).

The relaunch was supported by a £3.2 million ad campaign, running across 1,000 pages in more than 330 professional magazines until the end of 2005. The full-page ads remind decision makers throughout the industry that professional media is an effective, creative and influential way to communicate their message to their customers.

PPA Professional’s media committee comprises senior management executives working together to protect and promote the £3.4bn professional magazine sector. Current priorities include working to improve knowledge through the Advocacy programme, research initiatives, marketing the medium to agencies and advertisers and organising the 2006 international professional media conference in London.

For further information please contact:
Dee Byrne or Martin Loat at Propeller Communications 
Tel: +44 (0) 870 066 4608 or firstname.surname@propellercom.com

Lucy Fairclough, Head of Marketing at PPA Professional,
Tel: +44 (0)20 7404 4166 or lucy.fairclough@ppa.co.uk