Middleton to lead growth at Air Business Group

UK-based periodicals mailing specialist Air Business Group has appointed Jonathan Middleton as its new group business development and marketing director. The appointment, which took effect last month, will see Middleton working to build on the An Post subsidiary’s position in the publishing market, driving growth by developing new services for new markets and for existing customers.

Middleton comes with 15 years of experience within the mail, express and parcels industry, working for public and private sector organisations in both international and domestic UK markets.

He was head of sales channels for Royal Mail from 1997 to 2007, after which he became head of group development and integration for Royal Mail competitor UK Mail.

Air Business Group, which has its headquarters in St Albans, was founded in 1986 and acquired by Ireland’s An Post in 2002.

It works with a dozen postal operators and more than 40 mailing agents around the world to provide a range of international mail services, from locally-registered periodical posting to next-day hand delivery in many of the world’s major business centres.

Publishing industry clients include Informa, EMAP, Dennis Publishing, The Guardian and Progressive Media.

“Exciting time”

This summer saw the company buying subscription and publishing services specialist Quadrant Subscription Services from business publishing giant Reed Business Information, which will remain a long-term client.

Over the past decade, Air Business has seen its turnover growing from £8m to about £40m.

Commenting on his appointment, Middleton said the company was at an “exciting time in its history”.

“The business has an exciting ambition for growth which is underpinned by a passion and track record for delivering excellent operational quality and customer service – to a level that I’ve not seen before in my previous 15 years experience,” he said.