UBM Names Tim Cobbold as New Company CEO

February 24, 2014

Tim Cobbold was named the new CEO of U.K.-based UBM, taking his new position and a seat on the board May 6.

Cobbold will replace David Levin, UBM’s current CEO, who announced he intended to step down in September last year, with his departure effective March 1.

"I am very pleased to welcome Tim to UBM as CEO. He was an outstanding candidate from a very strong field,” said Dame Helen Alexander, chairman of UBM.

She added, “Tim has successfully led highly international, operationally complex businesses; the Board is confident that his track record ideally qualifies him to continue the development of UBM as a focused, international events-led marketing communications business. I look forward to working with him to develop UBM's business into the future."

Cobbold previously worked for De La Rue, where he has been CEO since 2011. Before joining De La Rue, he was CEO of Chloride Group plc, the international provider of secure power solutions.

Cobbold also was at Smiths Group, where he held a wide variety of senior roles, including a number of managing director positions. In addition, Cobbold is a non-executive director of Drax.

"I'm delighted to be joining UBM: it's an exciting, dynamic international business,” Cobbold said.

He added, “As a market leader in both the global events and the news and digital content marketing industries, it has significant growth potential. I look forward to developing the business further with the Board and the rest of the team at UBM."

On Levin's departure Dame Alexander will become executive chairman until Cobbold begins his position, after which Dame Alexander will revert to her non-executive role.

Levin originally had said he would leave UBM in July, but moved up his departure date after being named the new president and CEO of McGraw-Hill Education.

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