FORMER publishing chief Brin Bucknor is to be the Kent Messenger Group’s new commercial director.

The married father-of-two was UK managing director of VNU, a pan-European publishing company, from 1999 until last October.

It produces 10 magazine titles, including Personal Computer World and Accountancy Age, employs 300 people and has sales of £42million.

In recent years, VNU has re-positioned its business in traditional print publishing to become a multi-media information provider.

Since December, Mr Bucknor has worked for a number of clients as a media consultant. He is an acknowledged expert in developing Internet classified operations.

At the KMG, he will be responsible for newspaper advertising and Internet sales, as well as other commercial operations.

Mr Bucknor is married to Sian and has two children Joe and Paul, They live in Forest Hill, London.

He will be based at the KMG’s headquarters in Larkfield, near Maidstone, and joins the company on September 4.