UBM Studios Bolsters its Sales Team to Capitalize on the Strong Demand for Virtual Business Solutions

CHICAGO, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report by Market Research Media predicts the worldwide virtual conference market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 56 percent between the period of 2010 and 2015, driving accelerated growth in Marketing as a Service (MaaS) around virtual environments.  Following UBM Studios' expansion in Europe and Asia, the company is now expanding its sales resources to build external sales in North America to specifically work with customers outside the traditional markets UBM serves.

Kristin Beaulieu has joined UBM Studios as SVP Sales and Development, East and Kathleen Connolly has joined UBM Studios as VP Sales and Development, West.  In these newly created positions, Beaulieu and Connolly will be responsible for business and sales development as well as professional consultative services.  Michael Kushner, UBM Studios' VP, Digital Media Strategy, will focus on sales and business development within UBM globally.  Beaulieu, Connolly and Kushner report to Kate Spellman, President, UBM Studios.  

"This is an important and exciting time of growth for UBM Studios.  We have seen a need for virtual MaaS and the demand is growing.  In response, we've broadened our business globally, we continue to create new virtual offerings and build the support that is needed in the market," said Spellman. "Together, Michael, Kristin and Kathleen are an impressive team.  Their experience and contacts across the industry will help us build on our brand and create new business opportunities."

With more than 15 years of experience, Beaulieu has a track record of significantly growing revenue in both the virtual media and publishing markets.  Previously, she was Senior Vice President – Event Sales for Ziff Davis Enterprise where she built new virtual event products and also managed virtual events for a variety of large accounts.  In addition, Beaulieu held several positions with InXpo managing key publishing and enterprise accounts.  Prior, she held marketing positions with Printdogs.com and Styleclick.com. Beaulieu earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University and a M.B.A. from Simmons College, Graduate School of Management.

Connolly has 20 years of sales and management experience in IT media and events.  Most recently, Connolly was the Strategic Account Director for Everything Channel where she worked with the leading Channel Chiefs and marketing executives from the largest technology manufacturers in the Western US to achieve strategic Channel objectives.  She is an expert in blending the right products and services to suit the unique needs of each client.  Prior, Connolly held both sales and management positions with Communications Week, InformationWeek, Network Computing, InternetWeek and DataCommunications. Connolly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Marketing from California State University at Fullerton and received a certificate from the Leading and Managing People Program from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business.

For additional information on UBM Studios, contact Max Gerstein at 773 687 4317 or [email protected].

To purchase a virtual business solution, contact Kristin Beaulieu at [email protected] or 773 687 4318 or Kathleen Connolly at [email protected] or 949 223 3611.

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About UBM Studios

UBM Studios leads the industry in world-class user engagement for virtual environments, social networking and gaming.  A global marketing service, UBM Studios delivers content, audience and in-depth analytics driving deeper award-winning user engagement paired with vision, process and execution.

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetisation of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities -- from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists -- with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.ubm.com

Contact
Michele McPhail
UBM Studios
773 687 4321A
[email protected]

SOURCE UBM Studios