IPC Ignite! Marketing Chief Quits

IPC Ignite!’s marketing director, Vijay Solanki, is to leave the company after just one year in the job. Mike Soutar, IPC Ignite! managing director has acknowledged Solanki’s “important contribution” to the division’s first year, but added “Our marketing requirements and objectives have now changed as the market in which we operate has evolved”. However, Soutar insisted: “the decision to part company was reached by mutual consent and is entirely amicable.”

IPC Ignite! is the rebranded version of IPC Music & Sport, established at the start of this year (see IPC Rebrands Its Lad’s Mags And Music Division). Its portfolio includes Loaded, Muzik, NME and Uncut. During Solanki’s reign as marketing director the long established music title Melody Maker was folded into NME (see IPC To Close Melody Maker) and, earlier this summer, mens title Later was axed (see Emap To Axe Sky While IPC Says ‘See You’ To Later). However, last month saw the launch of the first ever Russian edition of NME.

Solanki is not to be replaced directly. Niall McKinney, currently senior marketing directof for Ignite’s mens’ brands is to be promoted to head of marketing for Ignite. He will report jointly to Soutar and Philippa Brown, IPC group’s marketing director, who is to join the Ignite board and take overall responsibility for the company’s marketing direction.

It is thought that Solanki is now planning to go it alone. He said: “I now plan to exploit my experience in FMCG and media in the field of consultancy.”

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