Express woman fills top IPC post

Daily Express advertising sales controller Georgina Crace is to join IPC Magazines’ SouthBank Publishing Group as group ad director.

She will replace Debbie Bowman, who quit in June to look after her family.

Crace beat a string of internal candidates to take charge of the 60-strong sales team. Ad director of fashion titles Justine Southall and Debbie Turner, ad director of home interest titles, ruled themselves out of the running early on in the selection process. However, insiders suggest Eileen Melville, ad director at IPC’s Country Magazines, was on the final shortlist.

Southbank managing director Chris Boyd says: “Crace is one of the very top sales controllers in the business and is highly respected by agencies and clients alike.”

His view is endorsed by Helena Hudson, Optimedia’s account manager for L’Oreal and Lancôme: “It’s a very good appointment for IPC. Crace has an excellent profile in the industry, is very tenacious and will bring some different contacts. But they must be careful to use her in a hands-on role. Bowman didn’t have that kind of role and that was a source of some problems.”

Crace will take responsibility for 18 titles, ranging from Marie Claire to Homes and Ideas and Practical Parenting.

Her starting date had not been agreed as Marketing Week went to press.