IPC group chief Davidson quits

Nigel Davidson, the group managing director of magazine publisher IPC’s Weeklies and Southbank divisions, has resigned after 30 years at the company.

He has decided, after seven years on the IPC board, to take time out from the publishing industry. But he will continue as managing director of the Weeklies group for another year, says the company.

Davidson has been responsible for publishing some of IPC’s highest-profile magazines, including Marie Claire, Woman’s Own and TV Times. He masterminded the resurgence of IPC women’s weekly titles after the launch of the German publishing groups Gruner & Jahr and Bauer into the market in the Eighties with their titles Best and Bella.

As a result of Davidson’s resignation, Chris Boyd, managing director of IPC’s Southbank Group, will report directly to chief executive Mike Matthew. Sly Grice, advertising director for the Weeklies Group, becomes managing director of the TV weeklies.

In the past 12 months, Davidson has overseen the launch of Now magazine, which was incorporated with Here! when it was bought from Bauer. The Weeklies group’s Film & TV Week folded this year.

Media Analysis, page 14