EDINBURGH MIDLOTHIAN, U.K. May 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- John Menzies plc announces the appointment of Ellis Watson as the new Managing Director of Menzies Distribution. He will join Distribution in September, succeeding Iain Callaghan on his retirement after 40 years' successful service.
Ellis (38) is currently Managing Director, National Newspapers at Trinity Mirror plc. He joined Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) as General Manager in 2003. In May 2004 Ellis was promoted to run two operating businesses (MGN and Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail) with five national newspapers (Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The People, Daily Record and Sunday Mail), employing some 2,700 people.
Prior to joining Trinity Mirror, Ellis was Managing Director of Celador International. His media career began with nine years at News International, where latterly he was Marketing Director with overall responsibility for the sales and marketing of the world's biggest daily and Sunday newspapers, The Sun and the News of the World.
Ellis is currently the Chairman of the Newspaper Publishers Association, the trade body for daily national newspapers.
John Menzies' Chairman, William Thomson, said: "We are delighted to appoint Ellis, who is well respected in the industry, to this important position for John Menzies. He brings a breadth of industry experience to Menzies Distribution and a wealth of skills and talents to our senior leadership team."
Ellis Watson said:
"I am very excited about joining John Menzies in this role. Menzies Distribution is a leader in UK newspaper and magazine distribution, and is a pioneer in services to publishers and retailers. It has a strong management team and a robust position in its sector. I am looking forward to the opportunity to build on its solid base."
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1. John Menzies plc, the time-critical logistics company, is one of Scotland's largest companies. The company has two operating divisions, Menzies Distribution and Menzies Aviation. These divisions operate in two distinct sectors where success depends on providing an efficient, high quality, time-critical service to their customers and partners.
2. In the year ended 25 December 2004, Menzies reported turnover of 1,330.6m Pounds (2003 - 1299.1m Pounds) and Group profit on ordinary activities before tax and exceptionals of 30.3m Pounds (2003 - 17.1m Pounds). Turnover at the Distribution division was 1,109.4m Pounds (2003 - 1,058.0m Pounds) whilst pre-exceptional operating profit was 30.6m Pounds (2003 - 26.2m Pounds). In the Aviation division turnover was 259.8m Pounds (2003 - 239.7m Pounds) and pre-exceptional operating profit was 10.4m Pounds against 2.4m Pounds in 2003.
3. The company was established in 1833 and its head office is in Edinburgh, Scotland. Today the company is an international operation with offices, partners and contracts located in Europe, North and South America, Australasia and Africa.
4. Menzies Distribution is a leading provider of added value distribution and marketing services to the newspaper and magazine supply chain in the UK. The division handles over 3,000 magazine titles and 4 million newspapers each day (5 million on Sundays) which are delivered to more than 21,200 customers.
5. Menzies Aviation is one of the world's major independent suppliers of ground handling services to the aviation market providing passenger, ramp and cargo services for many of the world's leading airlines and some of the busiest international airports. The division employs over 9,300 people across the globe, at 92 airports in 23 countries servicing in excess of 500 aviation customers.
6. Further information on John Menzies plc can be found at: www.johnmenziesplc.com; www.menziesdistribution.com; and www.menziesaviation.com.