How we’ve grown
Trader Media Group began life when entrepreneur John Madejski saw the potential of classified automotive titles during a visit to the US in 1976. The following year his Hurst Publishing company launched the first title – Thames Valley Trader – with Southern Auto Trader following in 1981. In 1982 Guardian Media Group launched their Auto Mart magazine in the North West. Seeing potential synergy Guardian Media approached Hurst with the idea of running complementary rather than competing titles. This resulted in the launch of further titles – either individually owned by the respective partners, or jointly by the two organisations.
When European venture capitalists BC Partners acquired part of Hurst in 1998 they approached Guardian Media Group with a merger proposal. The new company became Trader Media Group and, in August 2003, Guardian Media Group assumed 100% ownership with the buy-out of BC Partners. In 2007, Guardian Media Group sold a 49.9% stake of TMG to Apax Partners
Key events in our history
- 1976 – John Madejski first sees the idea on a US visit
- 1977 – Launch of Thames Valley Trader
- 1981 – Launch of Southern Auto Trader
- 1983 – Joint venture established between GMG and Hurst Publishing
- 1988 – All titles re-branded Auto Trader
- 1990 – Launch of Supermart and Diamond FreeAds
- 1995 – Auto Trader launched in Ireland
- 1994-6 – Top Marques & Bike Trader launched, Truck Trader acquired
- 1996 – Launch of the UK’s largest motoring website www.autotrader.co.uk
- 1997-8 – Auto Freeway launched
- 1997 – Boats & Yachts for Sale and Buy a Boat acquired
- 1998 – Hurst Publishing acquired by BC Partners
- 2000 – BC Partners and GMG merge to form Trader Media Group
- 2001 – Supermart and Diamond FreeAds re-launch as AdTrader
- 2002 – Launch of “Buy New” from Auto Trader
- 2003 – GMG acquires BC Partners’ interest in the group
- 2005 – Launch of Trader Data Systems, acquisition of www.carzone.ie
- 2006 – Launch of woo.co.uk and fusion magazine, aquisition of 2nd Byte and Contact Advantage
- 2007 – A minority stake in TMG’s ownership is bought by Apax Partners
