Mecom continues growth with hire of London GC

Respected former Pearson and 3 general counsel Paul Vickers has re-emerged at burgeoning publishing company Mecom.

Vickers joined Mecom last week (2 July) as general counsel and company secretary with a remit to build a legal and company secretarial function.

Since its AIM listing in March 2005 Mecom has transformed from a cash shell to one of Europe's leading newspaper publishers and has made a series of senior management hires. It is expected to transfer to the main list next year.

Vickers is the first lawyer at the company's London headquarters. He will report directly to chairman David Montgomery, the former boss at the Mirror Group.

Through a series of acquisitions Mecom now has more than 8,000 employees in five European countries and a market capitalisation of around £1.3bn. It owns regional newspapers in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland.