News of the anticipated restructure of Emap Communications, the business-to-business media services group, is filtering through. The entire publisher stream of management is alleged to be out of one door this week, while 50 new digital executives move in from another.

Yes, it seems that the shift from print to digital has begun in earnest. Three distinct divisions will be created:
– Emap Connect, which will manage the live events portfolio, will report to chief executive Malcolm Goff, former group managing director of Emap’s Retail division
– Emap Inform will manage the remaining publishing interests under the leadership of chief executive Simon Middleboe
– A new digital division focusing on extension of the groups brands across both the Connect and Inform portfolios is expected to be formally announced later this week.



Emap's events to become part of Connect portfolio

The live events division, Connect, will be divided into three sub-divisions, including Public Sector, Construction and International Brands, the latter of which will be headed up by Alison Jackson, former managing director of the Gift portfolio of event brands, including Spring Fair.

In the following months it is also widely expected that the sale of Reed Elsevier`s publishing arm, RBI, will be confirmed, and Emap`s restructure in favour of digital investments confirms that the UK`s leading business publishers are restructuring their media menu. This is hardly surprising and long overdue, as recruitment and display advertising revenues plummet in favour of the solutions that digital media converged with live communications can deliver in more sustainable and measurable environments.

Although it certainly is not a case of “Would the last man out of last
Century’s media please turn out the lights”, the dimmer switch has certainly been turned as transition to digital media continues its inexorable acceleration.

For more on Emap’s new divisions, visit www.emap.com