Action Pursuit Group LLC, known as APG Media, has a new chief.
The Orange-based company, part of New York-based Apprise Media LLC, said Brent Diamond will take the president and chief executive role, replacing Craig Nicker-son, who is retiring.
APG publishes 15 magazines for several niches, including automotive with Drag Racer, Diesel World and Street Trucks magazines, home with Romantic Homes and Victorian Homes, and outdoor sports with Bow & Arrow Hunting, Gun World and Knives Illustrated. Last year, it launched Lodges and Lofts.
The company also runs 21 automotive events and 12 Web sites for its publications.
Diamond knows the publishing ropes.
He is the former chief executive of Sports Information Group, a company owned by Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners. Sports Information is best known for its horse racing newspaper and Web site Daily Racing Form, which Arlington bought last year.
Charles McCurdy, chairman and chief executive of APG parent Apprise Media, sought out Diamond.
The two have a positive track record.
They worked closely together earlier in their careers at Primedia Inc. McCurdy was Primedia’s former president. Diamond was the president of Primedia’s lifestyles group, which includes 35 consumer magazines, Web sites and live events.
Diamond comes at a critical time.
The slow economy, caused in part by a meltdown in the real estate market, has curtailed advertising for homes, contractors and furnishings, a mainstay of lifestyle magazines.
Thousandth Spot
Irvine-based Shelter Post Production, an editorial and finishing house, just hit a milestone for client Young & Rubicam.
The shop said it wrapped up its 1,000th spot for one of Y & R;’s clients: Land Rover North America.
Christopher Coleman, Y & R;’s executive producer, said Shelter consistently delivers good work on time.
“The requirement for accuracy is paramount for this type of work,” Coleman said. “One mistake can cost the agency time, money and make goods on missed media.”
Shelter has been working on this account for several years, said founder Stuart Shook.
Most recently, Shelter upgraded some of its equipment, particularly a 2009 Smoke HD finishing system, so it could meet Y & R;’s requirement of having some spots finished in high definition, he said.
Shelter spent the year building up its creative team.
A few months back it hired Christopher Willoughby as partner and lead editor.
The shop also brought on a new executive producer.
Bock Does Marketing
Bock Communications Inc. just opened a new headquarters in Irvine and added to its executive team.
The shop, which focuses on the wireless telecommunications industry, said it hired Anita Otto as vice president.
She’ll help oversee Bock’s expanded services, which now includes marketing. In the past, Bock mainly offered public relations.
“Many of our clients consistently need both and we enrich our value by providing everything under the same roof,” Bock said.
To get the word out, Bock revamped its Web site, company logo and marketing.
ASR Expo’s Baby
San Juan Capistrano-based Action Sports Retailer has a new baby.
The tradeshow company said it’s launching a smaller show called Virtue aimed at edgy lifestyle brands focused on mixed martial arts, freestyle motocross, tattoo culture, art and music.
The show will be held in September at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, which will be across the street from the bigger ASR Expo happening at the same time.
Andy Tompkins, ASR’s group show director, said mixed martial arts, which also involves punching and wrestling, is “one of the fastest growing sports in America.”
“We’ve had strong interest from both the exhibitor and retail side to offer a trade event for this emerging market,” Tompkins said.
Brands planning to show their wares include Irvine-based Sullen, Irvine-based Metal Mulisha and Grand Terrace-based Tap Out.
ASR typically draws more than 18,000 people, including 6,600 buyers and 500 media types.
The show has felt the impact of a soft economy, with a few skate shoe brands pulling out citing schedule conflicts and other reasons.
They include Foothill Ranch-based Sole Technology Inc., which said it plans to take its annual budget for larger shows and spend it on smaller shows, visiting retailers and getting them to come to its headquarters.
Torrance-based Podium Distribution and San Clemente-based Circa Footwear and Apparel are also skipping the September show.
