Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> September 6, 1999
KEVIN HAND, aged 47, is qualified as a typographic designer, he joined
Link House in the UK as a management trainee. After a three year spell
in Public Relations, he rejoined Link as Marketing and Circulation
Controller. He joined EMAP in 1983, starting as Circulation Director
and became Chief Executive of the Consumer Division in 1988 (increasing
the number of titles from 40 to 90 and the market share from 6% to 13%
in seven years). EMAP Consumer therefore became the largest and most
profitable part of EMAP. He joined EMAP plc board in 1989. In 1990 he
concluded a deal with Bayard Presse in Paris for the purchase of "Le
Chasseur Francais" thus launching EMAP International's strategy. Three
years ago, EMAP bought "Les Editions Mondiales" (including titles such
as T-l- Poche, Modes & Travaux, Auto Plus) as well as several titles
from "La Famille Hersant" (including l'Auto Journal, Bateaux). At this
time he was appointed President Directeur General of the newly created
EMAP France. In 1996 EMAP bought Tele Star and Top Sant- from CLT,
enforcing its position as third largest publisher in France with a
market share of 17% against 0.001% six years ago. With a recent
purchase of tow publishing companies in Australia, EMAP International
today represents almost 40% of EMAP Plc's turnover. In July 1998, Kevin
Hand became Group Chief Executive of EMAP Plc and remains President-
Directeur General of EMAP France. Profile
to set the stage for the readers?
Mr. Hand: EMAP is essentially a media company. We started it over 50
years ago, when
