UBM Aviation Announces Executive Change.

UBM Aviation today announces that Steve Casley, Chief Operating Officer of OAG (Official Airline Guide) will not be renewing his contract when it expires on 1 February and will be leaving the organisation to pursue other career opportunities.

As a co-founder of BACK Aviation Solutions - which was acquired by Commonwealth Business Media in March 2005 - Steve was instrumental in the reorganization of the company to develop a strong and cohesive proposition to the global aviation market through the merger of BACK and OAG in June 2007. Steve’s stewardship as Chief Operating Officer saw a significant turnaround in OAG's financial performance and the adoption of the vertical across the business. This turnaround in OAG's performance has helped position the business very well for the current wider economic turmoil and UBM Aviation is trading in line with UBM's expectations. Steve also played a significant role in the acquisition of both AIG and the AeroStrategy data business which have rounded out the aviation group portfolio to include data, publications and events.

As previously announced, the business will report to David Levin, UBM’s Chief Executive Officer, and a search is under way for a permanent CEO of the business.

Steve has more than 25 years of management and consulting experience for airlines and aviation-related companies. Prior to co-founding BACK Aviation Solutions, he held numerous airline executive positions at Laker Airways, People Express Airlines, serving as the Managing Director of Operations during the launch of Continental Airlines $1billion premier Newark hub, and was a senior executive at the Towers Perrin Transportation Practice.