On 16 September 2013, UBM plc announced that David Levin intended to step down as Chief Executive Officer by 31 July 2014. With his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of McGraw-Hill Education in New York, David’s departure from UBM will be effective as of 1 March 2014.
Upon David’s departure, Dame Helen Alexander, Chairman of UBM plc, will become Executive Chairman until a new CEO is in place. She will chair UBM’s Executive Committee and continue to work closely with Robert Gray, Chief Financial Officer.
Dame Helen, Chairman of UBM plc, said: “We are making very good progress in the search for David’s successor and will ensure there is an orderly transition. UBM has a strong and experienced senior management team, and it is very much business as usual. I congratulate David on his exciting new role, and thank him warmly for his enormous contribution to UBM in the past and during this transitional period.”
Appointment of Non-executive Director and Audit Committee Chairman
UBM announces that John McConnell will join its Board of Directors as a non-executive director on 27 January 2014. He will join the Audit and Nomination Committees upon appointment, and will become chairman of the Audit Committee with effect from 1 March 2014. In that role he will succeed Jon Newcomb who has chaired the Audit Committee since 2008 and who will remain on the Board.
John McConnell is Group Finance Director of Inchcape plc, the leading premium automotive group which operates in 26 developed and emerging markets around the world. An Australian national, he joined Inchcape in 1999 as CFO of their Australian and New Zealand businesses and was subsequently promoted to CEO of that region before being appointed to his current role in October 2009. Prior to joining Inchcape John worked with Reckitt and Colman (now Reckitt Benckiser) for 13 years in a variety of senior financial roles in the UK, Germany and Australia.
Dame Helen Alexander, Chairman of UBM plc, said: “I am delighted to welcome John McConnell to UBM. I know that he will make a valuable contribution both to the Board and to the Audit Committee. Alongside his strong financial background he brings international operating experience particularly in Asian markets which are important for UBM. I would also like to thank Jon Newcomb for his excellent chairmanship of the Audit Committee and look forward to continuing to work with him on the Board.”
