IPC Media sets up events arm

IPC Media is to establish a standalone events and exhibitions business division, to be known as IPC Live!.

It will be headed by Stephanie Grice, former director of events with Gruner+Jahr UK and director of international events for the National Magazine Company.

Four new initiatives are to be rolled out in the next six months, the details of which are still under wraps. It is believed, however, that they will not include a revival of a planned joint IPC and Emap Babies2Kids exhibition at Earls Court.

This was due to be staged in April 2001, but was first postponed and is now thought to have been abandoned entirely.

IPC already organises eight exhibitions, including The Decanter Fine Wine Encounter, the HI-FI Show and VolksWorld Show, and is one of the largest single companies in the UK investing in exhibitions.

IPC chief executive Sly Bailey said: “The exhibitions market is a dynamic and growing business with events up 11% year on year and currently attracting more than 10 million visitors a year.

“We see development of this business as core to the IPC Media strategy.”

Grice will be joined by commercial director Jo Restall, sales & sponsorship manager Sharon Moore, show manager Katie Raper, events co-ordinator Theresa Brill and events assistant Emma Gough.

Grice said: “IPC is an innovator. It is highly creative and has a portfolio of brands that translate extremely well into live events. It’s a powerful example of IPC’s brand-centric, media-neutral strategy in action.”

It is thought the first initiatives will centre on a mix of roadshows, concerts and exhibitions and could be tied closely to imminent launches in the leisure and home and garden areas.

The slogan will be IPC Live! – Creating the Experience