Kevin Hand is to become the new Chairman of the Professional Publishers Association (PPA).
He will take up the role at the PPA Chairman’s Reception on Monday February 6, 2012, succeeding outgoing Chairman Charles Reed, Group Managing Director of William Reed Business Media.
The position of PPA Chair-Elect has been vacant since Stevie Spring resigned from the PPA Board last week following her departure as CEO of Future Publishing.
Hand is the former CEO of Emap plc and Hachette UK, and is also Chairman of Dods plc, the leading Business Media data and information service.
He is currently acting as a Special Adviser to Hearst Magazines UK, and was recently appointed Honorary Vice-President of the European Magazine Media Association (EMMA).
"I am delighted to be named Chairman of the PPA," said Hand. "I look forward to working with PPA Chief Executive Barry McIlheney and his team in leading and serving this fantastic industry, which I am proud to have been a part of for the last 30 years."
"It has been a privilege to have been PPA Chairman for the last two years," said Charles Reed. "While many challenges remain, I am confident that the PPA is in very good shape to meet these challenges and opportunities going forward."