Appointment of Patrick Kerr

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World leading publisher and information provider Reed Elsevier Group plc has announced the appointment of Patrick Kerr as deputy director, corporate relations. Kerr will report to Catherine May, director of corporate relations and communications for the group. Currently head of communications at Unilever UK, Kerr joins Reed Elsevier as a replacement for incumbent deputy director of corporate relations Susanna Smart, who retires in spring 2005 after 20 years with the group.

Commenting on the appointment, Catherine May said: “I am delighted to welcome Patrick to the team.  He joins us early in 2005 to work alongside Susanna on the release of our preliminary results, the production of our annual report and the management of our AGM. Finding a senior communications professional to replace Susanna, who has such a depth of experience within the group, was a difficult task, which we asked Whitehead Mann to undertake. With a strong track record in media relations and corporate affairs and his Unilever experience of operating inside a major corporation I believe Patrick will be a great addition to our team.”

At Unilever Kerr has focused on public affairs, media relations and the company’s highly successful sponsorship of The Unilever Series at Tate Modern. 

At Reed Elsevier he will take up Smart’s responsibilities in helping to deliver Reed Elsevier’s global communications programme which encompasses corporate media relations, financial regulatory procedures, the company’s AGM and annual review, government relations, internal communications and the corporate website and intranet.

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For further information:

Patrick Kerr, Unilever : 07766 087103 (mobile)
Catherine May, Reed Elsevier : 020 7166 5657 (direct)

Notes to editors

Reed Elsevier Group plc is a world leading publisher and information provider. It is owned equally by its two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The parent companies are listed on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges, under the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RUK and ENL. In 2003, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation of £1,010 million on turnover of £4,925 million. The group employs 35,000 people, including approximately 22,000 in North America. Operating in the scientific, legal, educational and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high value and flexible information solutions to professional end users, with increasing emphasis on internet delivery.

Patrick Kerr’s previous roles have included : director of corporate communications at Sonera zed, the SMS-based mobile data services company, and director of communications at business group London First. He began his career in public relations at Burson-Marsteller, working in their London and Brussels offices. Kerr is a non-executive director of the Whitehall & Industry Group.