Alban Group Centralised

Blade is the name of the new £65m billing stand alone centralised outdoor buying operation formed to service the needs of the three outdoor specialists in the Alban group – Concord, Outdoor Connection and Outdoor Focus.

The new operation, which launches today, is a more formal extension of the Alban Group central buying unit which has been operating for two years. Blade will have its own corporate identity and presence in the market, as well as its own staff.

Blade will be headed by Steve Wilson, as Managing Director and have a staff of 16 including a field force of nine. Current National Buying Manager Malcolm Thomas will be joined by Nick Maddison, who joins from Concord as National Buying Manager of 6-sheets and Transport. Both will report to Wilson. In addition Steve Barton has been recruited from rival specialist IPM to be London Buying Managerand Sara Hayes has joined from post production house The Mill to be Regional Buying Manager. The senior team is completed by Terri Pointing as Campaign Manager responsible for controlling budgets and operations.

The launch of Blade is part of an ongoing strategy at Alban which will see all divisions within the group adopt clear positioning. The three specialists – Concord (100% owned by Alban), Outdoor Connection (Alban 33%, AMV 33%, BMP 33%) and Outdoor Focus (Alban 33%, CIA 67%) – will concentrate on client service, campaign planning and new business development.

Steve Wilson, Managing Director, Blade: 0171 434 9434