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Managing director of Gruppo Media and founder of the Rouleur Classic Bruce Sandell has announced the appointment of Chris Holman to the newly created role of international events and marketing director.
Holman joins from Upper Street Events, where he is currently the portfolio director with responsibility for The Cycle Show. This year marks the first edition of the Rouleur Classic produced outside of the auspices of the joint venture with Telegraph Events – owned and organised by Gruppo Media exclusively.
Holman’s career in cycling events began in 1995 when he joined Future Publishing to work on the launch of the Bike Show. In 2000, he joined Hastings based BMX distributors Seventies to organise the company’s resurrected Backyard Jams sponsored by Etnies. In 2002, he was recruited by Upper Street Events, the organisers of the Cycle Show, to work as marketer for the event. After a period as event director on several of the company’s other shows, he took on that role for the Cycle Show in 2012.
Holman commented: “In just over 14 years with Upper Street, I’ve seen the Cycle Show grow from quite a modest footprint at the Business Design Centre to well over 22,000m squared at the NEC. I’m very attached to the show and I’ll be sad to move on, but I know it’s in very safe hands with Steve Morgan and the team.”
“I’ve long admired the work done by Bruce and the team in developing the Rouleur brand and don’t mind admitting to casting a jealous eye on the Rouleur Classic in recent times. The Gruppo Media team feel very strongly that they’ve only just scratched the surface of Rouleur’s potential, and given the progress they’ve made in quite a short timeframe, the ideas that are in the pipeline and their total commitment to deliver on those, it’s hard not be very excited for the future for the brand. It’s fantastic to be part of the plans for Rouleur and I’m hugely looking forward to the new challenge.”
Bruce Sandell added: ”We are delighted to be welcoming Chris to our business. At such an exciting time, he brings with him a great wealth of experience. Heading into its fourth year, the UK Rouleur Classic continues to go from strength to strength – with international expansion planned over the next 3 years. This appointment indicates our very high level of ambition.”
The 2018 Rouleur Classic will run from Thursday, November 1 to Saturday, November 3 2018 at Victoria House, London. Chris Holman will join Gruppo Media at end of March 2018.
