Greg Topalian, who has run BookExpo America since 2000, has been named to head a new business division at Reed Exhibitions and will be succeeded as BEA show director by Chris McCabe. McCabe joined Reed Exhibitions (which is, like PW, owned by Reed Elsevier), parent company of BEA, in 1997 and has overseen PGA Golf Exhibitions. The changes are effective immediately.
Topalian called his promotion "bittersweet," and said that while he is "looking forward to the challenges of launching new shows, running BEA has been very rewarding." Topalian joined the BEA staff in 1997, was named group sales director in 1998 and, a year later, became director of strategic accounts. He was named to head the show in August 2000, following the departure of Courtney Muller, and helped put the convention on firm ground following a number of shaky years in the mid- 1990s.
