July 11, 2013

Gordon Brown aide named new Informa chief after long-term boss stands down

A senior aide to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been named chief executive of Informa.

The company appointed Stephen Carter, now Lord Carter, following the announcement that long-time boss Peter Rigby would step down at the end of the year.

Carter has been on the board at the publishing, business information and events company since 2010. His former roles include chief executive at media regulator Ofcom and chief executive of PR firm Brunswick. He served in Downing Street as Brown’s chief of staff for nine months in 2008.

Rigby joined Informa in 1983 before becoming chief executive in 1988 at the age of 33.

He said: "Like all good things, my time at Informa must come to an end. I decided many years ago that I would not overstay my welcome and leaving at the top, under my own terms and with Informa in great shape fulfils that promise to myself.

“Informa has been a major part of my life for the past 30 years, during which time the company has grown and evolved more than I could ever have imagined at the outset. I have enjoyed every minute of it and feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to manage the business over such a long and significant period.”

Informa chairman Derek Mapp added: “Informa owes a huge debt of gratitude to Peter, who has devoted a large portion of his career to the group, guiding it from humble beginnings into the leading global media group it is today. His boundless energy, enthusiasm and passionate management style has touched many people during his tenure and reflected in the unique culture prevalent across the group. I am sure that all of Informa’s stakeholders, including employees, shareholders and customers, will join me in thanking him for his enormous contribution to the company.”

Last year, Informa, which publishes Lloyd’s List, among other business titles, reported a decline in both profit and turnover. It brought in revenue of £1.2 billion, 3.4 per cent down on 2011, while profit dropped by 24.4 per cent to £67 million.

Topics in this article : Informa