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KM to outsource national sales to Mediaforce

KM Group has announced plans to outsource its national press and digital sales representation to Mediaforce.

The family-owned publisher, which runs newspapers radio stations and websites across Kent, described the move as an important stage in the development of the business which will significantly enhance the national profile of its portfolio.

Consultations are taking place with staff likely to be affected by the move, which is scheduled for completion on May 1.

The KM Group's print portfolio of both paid and free newspapers includes the Kent Messenger - one of the UK's biggest-selling weekly newspapers - the Kentish Gazette, Kentish Express and Sheerness Times Guardian and the countywide Extra series. Its website kentonline.co.uk, supported by a portfolio of ultra-local sites, saw its traffic grow by 32% to in the July-Dec 2011 ABC period.

KM Group managing director Richard Elliot said: "The move of our national sales press and digital representation to Mediaforce will enable us to develop our customer base. Mediaforce are passionate about their business, working with them enables us to work alongside other publishers. I see this move as a massively important development for our business that will give our newspaper and digital brands further exposure."

He paid tribute to the KM Group's in-house national sales team, saying they had shown “superb commitment to managing and developing our national and regional sales operation in recent years.”

Lawrie Procter, managing director of Mediaforce, said: "We are really excited to be chosen to work with KM Group. The business has fantastic brands which we are looking forward to representing across the UK."

In addition to its print and digital portfolio, KM Group runs seven kmfm radio stations, represented at a national level by First Radio Sales.