Trader Media Group: Zillah Byng-Maddick appointed interim CEO

Trader Media Group (TMG), Europe’s largest digital vehicle marketplace, has appointed Zillah Byng-Maddick as interim chief executive with immediate effect following John King’s decision to step down.

Sean Glithero, who has been with the Group six years, has been appointed interim Group Finance Director.

Tom Hall, Chairman of the TMG Board, said: “We are tremendously grateful for everything John has achieved at TMG. During his time as Chief Executive, the Group has been widely recognised as providing one of the world’s most successful examples of transition from print to digital publishing. He leaves the company in excellent shape as it moves on to the next stage of its development. We wish him every success in the future.”

John King said: “I have enjoyed five exciting and successful years working with an outstanding team at TMG. We have been on an amazing, transformational journey and while I am sorry to be leaving, the business needs a leader to commit long term to the next stage of the company’s development. I leave in the knowledge that the company is in a strong position to build on what we have achieved and that this is the right time for me to move on.”

Enquiries: College Hill – Adrian Duffield/Kay Larsen – 020 7457 2020

Notes to editors

Zillah Byng-Maddick, who has been with the Group for three years and closely involved in the digital transformation, has held a number of financial and operational roles within a range of consumer focussed groups.

Before Trader Media, she was CFO at Fitness First Group for just over three years during which time she was also the managing director of its German operation. She was CFO at First Quench/Thresher Group for two years and has held roles at General Electric, Waterstones, HMV and Nestle.

She is currently a non-executive director of Mecom Group plc and was a non-executive director of Gondala Holdings plc for four and a half years.

Trader Media Group is Europe’s largest digital marketplace for vehicles and the UK’s leading publisher of automotive classified advertising through market-leading websites and iconic print titles.

The Group’s leading brand, Auto Trader, is the UK’s no. 1 motoring website, with 10.2 million unique users in March 2012 and 1.1 billion page views (source: Omniture March 2012).

Trader Media Group’s success is built by providing trade customers with the ability to choose effective channels to market; building the service and relationship with dealers and manufacturers; and connecting them with consumers through multiple and easy-to-use channels including web sites and mobile devices.

Trader Media Group employs approximately 1,400 people and operates in the UK, Ireland, and South Africa. It is jointly owned by Guardian Media Group and Apax Partners.