Management

Executive Directors

David Montgomery - Executive Chairman

David Montgomery started his career in newspapers as chief sub-editor of the Sun between 1980 and 1982 before becoming assistant editor of the Sunday People in 1982 and editor of the News of the World between 1985 and 1987. As Managing Director of News UK Limited he acquired Today from the Lonrho group and managed its standalone operation as editor until its integration with the Sun and News of the World in 1991.

 

Between 1992 and 1999 David Montgomery  was Chief Executive of Mirror Group where  he oversaw its restructuring which involved substantial profit improvement measures; the introduction of modern technology as part of the move of Mirror Group to Canary Wharf; the re-financing of both the Mirror Group and its pension funds; and the acquisitions of Midland Independent Newspapers plc, Independent Newspapers plc, the Belfast Newsletter and the Derry Journal, a 20% stake in Scottish Media Group plc and the Racing Post.

Keith Allen ACA – Finance Director

Keith Allen joined the corporate finance division of Hambros Bank Limited in 1989 working with a variety of media clients. He became a director and head of the media team in 1997. In 1998 he left Hambros to become joint head of the newly established corporate finance division at BNP and following BNP's acquisition of Paribas in 2000 he assumed responsibility for the UK media team.  Keith Allen joined Mecom in 2004 and was appointed Finance Director in June 2006.

 

Non-Executive Directors

Sir Robin Miller - Senior Non-Executive Director

Robin Miller joined EMAP plc in 1965 and was on the board from 1976 where he was variously Chief Executive and non-executive Chairman. He has been Chairman of HMV Group plc and a non-executive director of Channel 4 Television and is currently Chairman of Boosey & Hawkes.  Sir Robin is Chairman of the combined Remuneration and Nominations Committee and sits on the Audit Committee.

John McNeil - Non-Executive Director

John McNeil was until recently Head of European Investment Banking at Citigroup Corporate and Investment Bank. He previously held a variety of senior positions at Citigroup, J. Henry Schroder & Co. Limited and Wood MacKenzie & Co. Limited. John McNeil is Chairman of the Audit Committee and sits on the combined Remuneration and Nominations Committee.

Alasdair Locke - Non-Executive Director

Alasdair Locke is Executive Chairman of Abbott Group plc. He has been involved in the oil and shipping industry since 1974 and has held senior executive positions within the banking industry. Alasdair Locke sits on both the Audit and the combined Remuneration and Nominations Committee.

 

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Senior Management

Bjørn Wiggen – CEO Mecom Europe

Bjørn Wiggen joined Orkla Media in 1983 and has worked in various senior management roles.  He has extensive experience within the media industry, including as CEO of Ernst G Mortengens Furlag and as Director of Magazines and Broadcasting and a Director of Orkla Media from 1987 to 1993.  In the years 1993 to 2005 Bjørn Wiggen held various executive positions within the brewing industry, lastly as Senior Vice President at Carlsberg Breweries, where he was in charge of brewing activities in Germany and Eastern Europe. Bjørn Wiggen was appointed CEO of Orkla Media in June 2005 and became CEO of Mecom Europe following the acquisition of Orkla Media by Mecom Group plc in October 2006.

 

Jan M.Moberg - CEO Norway

Jan M.Moberg has held various managerial positions within Orkla Media and Edda Media concentrating on digitial development projects. Previously, he has worked for several years as a Director of New Media in Telenor Internett, and holds broad editorial experience as a journalist and specialist editor in publications such as Kapital and Kapital Data.

 

Lasse Bolander – CEO Denmark

Lasse Bolander was appointed CEO of the Berlingske Offcin in October 2006. From 2001, he was Executive Vice President in Berlingske in charge of daily newspapers, free sheets, digital business and corporate development. In combination with his post in Berlingske, Lasse Bolander also acted as Director of digital media in Orkla Media from August 2005. After two years in thefood industry, Lasse Bolander joined Berlingske in 1996. From 1998 to 2001 he was CEO of Metropol Online, and online company in the Berlingske group.

Johan Boermann – CEO Netherlands

Johan Boermann has worked in the media industry for over 30 years, variously at Wegener Publishing Group, Wolters Kluwer, and as marketing director at KPN until 2002 when he joined MGL, part of LMG, as CEO.

Truls Velgaard – CEO CEE

Truls Velgaard started his career at Fredriksstad Blad as a journalist in 1979. He was appointed Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of Fredriksstad Blad in 1991. Truls Velgaard joined Orkla Media in 1998 as Director for Region Ost, one of three regions within Orkla Media Norway. In August 2005, he made Director of Sales and Marketing competence in Orkla Media and he became CEO of Poland in August 2006.

 

Peter Skulimma – CEO Germany

In the context of Mecom’s first investment in Germany Peter Skulimma was appointed CEO of BV Deutsche Zeitungsholding in 2005. During his career he held various managerial positions throughout the media industry and gained wide experience in both print and digital businesses. Before becoming Managing Director of Germany’s leading city magazine “Tip” in 1998 and CEO of Berliner Verlag in 2003, Peter Skulimma was Head of Advertising Sales at Berliner Zeitung. As a co-founder of Berlin’s biggest online portal “Berlinonline” Peter Skulimma is a member of its Supervisory Board since 1996 and Chairman since 2005.