LONDON, December 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Business Media plc
announces that David Levin will succeed Clive Hollick as CEO from April 5th
2005. David Levin, aged 42, is currently CEO of Symbian Limited. He has
extensive experience of international markets having worked in the Far East,
USA and Europe. He also has experience of media markets, having been the COO
of Euromoney Institutional Investor.
    Geoff Unwin, Chairman of UBM plc, today said:
    "The Board has conducted an extensive search to find the best possible
successor to Clive Hollick. The process has been clear from the start - we
have evaluated extremely strong internal candidates together with external
candidates. David Levin has an impressive operational background coupled with
a track record of strong strategic execution. He also has extensive
experience of international and media markets. Succeeding Clive will be a
difficult task for anyone, but we have every confidence that David is the
right man. We look forward to welcoming him on board."
    Clive Hollick, CEO of UBM plc said:
    "I am impressed by David's credentials and qualities. He is thoughtful,
inspires confidence and has an impressive track record. I feel confident that
he will continue to drive United to even greater heights - delivering strong
shareholder value. His people skills are also exemplary and he has a deep
knowledge of the world of publishing and information - both vital for a
business such as ours. I look forward to introducing David into the company
and doing whatever I can to make his introduction as smooth as possible."
    David Levin said:
    "I am delighted that the Board has chosen me to succeed Clive. I am in no
doubt as to how important this succession is viewed by everyone -
shareholders, customers and staff. They can all be assured that my objectives
are to continue to build and deliver strong shareholder value, ensure that I
build on our reputation for delivering superior services and products to our
many customers and maintaining our corporate values to all our employees."
    Notes to Editors:
    United Business Media plc (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com) is a
leading provider of business-to-business media solutions. Its products and
services help companies around the world to meet their market information
needs. UBM's businesses include NOP World, one of the largest market research
groups globally and PR Newswire, the world's leading corporate news
distribution service. Within the professional media division the companies
are CMP Media, CMP Asia, CMPi and UAP - this division includes B2B media and
exhibitions in high-tech, healthcare, entertainment and jewellery and fashion
in the US, UK, Asia and Europe.
    Biography of David Levin
    David Levin has been CEO of Symbian since April 2002 and has served on
the Symbian Supervisory Board since 2000. He joined Symbian from Psion plc,
the handheld computing company, where he was Chief Executive from February
1999. Previously, he spent five years with the international business
publishing group Euromoney Institutional Investor, as Chief Operating Officer
and before that as President of Institutional Investor in New York. David
also worked for the Venture Capital group Apax Partners for 4 years, as the
Managing Director of an owned engineering group, and the Consultancy firm
Bain & Company for 5 years, mostly in Asia. Levin read PPE at Oxford
University (graduating in 1983) and was awarded an MBA from Stanford
University in 1987.

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