Publisher IDG Communications Appoints New CEO

New CEO Appointed To Technology And Business Publisher IDG Communications

Technology and business publisher IDG Communications will have a new CEO when publisher Bob Pinchin takes over and managing director Martin Taylor steps aside to pursue private investment opportunities.

Taylor is handing over the reins after 14 years with the company, 13 as its CEO. He has taken it from a 10-employee, one-publication start-up to its present position as one the country's three or four largest magazine publishers. The company today employs close to 100 staff and has interests in magazines, internet publishing, exhibitions, conferences and research.

Pinchin has played a key role in this growth story, serving in various sales and general management roles within the company, most recently as publisher of IDG's six technology titles. Taylor has recently focused on developing IDG's New Zealand online business and supporting its regional online network through overseeing the Asia Pacific division of IDG's Global Web Support Centre.

"I'm looking forward to building on the successful foundation we have with a strong team to support me and a portfolio of products that are leading in their markets," says Pinchin.

"IDG has a fine new leader in Bob. We've worked closely together over the past year to ensure a smooth succession that will capitalise on what we've achieved to date," says Taylor. "For my part, I'm looking forward to taking up a fresh challenge-after taking a well-earned short break," he says.

Taylor will remain until 30 September to assist with the transition and will continue his close association with IDG through occasional writing assignments and links to its global venture capital fund IDG Ventures. Among private projects he is pursuing, Taylor plans to establish an "angel" investor network to encourage early stage investment in the IT and internet fields.

"New Zealand has to nurture more high quality businesses at an early stage to feed the emerging venture capital industry. The best way to do this is to give potential private equity investors proper support to succeed with often complex tech investments," he says.

Pinchin, 37, is currently publisher of IDG's six technology titles. He previously served as associate publisher and held various senior sales and management roles within the company. Prior to joining IDG, Pinchin held sales and sales management positions in the UK publishing and recruitment industries, most recently with Reed Publishing. He also sits on the Executive of the Magazine Publishers Association of New Zealand. He is married with one child and holds a BA (Hons) degree in geography from Kent University.

Taylor, 42, joined IDG as a reporter on its flagship weekly newspaper Computerworld before moving to become assistant editor then managing director. Prior to that, he held various sales and marketing roles in the computer industry and worked in the finance industry as an investment analyst for one of the country's first private venture capital firms. He has served as President of the Magazine Publishers Association of New Zealand and Chairman of the Joint Industry Committee for National Readership Research (JICNaR). Taylor is holder of the prestigious Chairman's Cup for worldwide management excellence within IDG and was judged 1998 Publishing Executive of the Year at the New Zealand Magazine Awards. He is married with two children and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in philosophy from Canterbury University.

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About IDG New Zealand

IDG Communications Limited is a subsidiary of the Boston-based International Data Group. IDG in New Zealand reaches more than 300,000 people each month through its award-winning publications and on-line services. It provides tech savvy business executives, IT professionals and a wide range of users with information that helps them succeed in today's technology-driven environment. Its magazine titles include Computerworld, PC World, Unlimited, Internet Magazine, CIO, WebBusiness and NZ Reseller News. It operates one the country's largest networks of websites, delivering more than a million pages of business and technology content each month to a unique audience exceeding 100,000 visitors. And its events group runs numerous conferences, seminars, awards programmes and includes the country's largest technology exhibition Computerworld Expo. Company information is available at www.idg.net.nz

About International Data Group

Headquartered in Boston, International Data Group (IDG) informs more people worldwide about information technology than any other company in the world. With annual revenues of US$3.1 billion, IDG is the leading global provider of IT media, research, conferences and events. IDG publishes more than 300 newspapers and magazines and 4,000 book titles in 80 countries, led by the Computerworld /InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, PC World, CIO, The Industry Standard and For Dummies® global product lines. IDG offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 300 targeted websites in 70 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related events in 35 countries - including the two largest platform events in the world - Macworld Conference & Expo and Linuxworld Conference & Expo.IDG's research arm, IDC, provides computer industry research and analysis through 51 offices in 43 countries worldwide. Company information is available at www.idg.com.

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