The Forum Corp. Names Vafa Akhavan as Its New CEO

BOSTON, March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Forum Corporation, a global leader in providing tailored learning solutions that help organizations effectively execute their business strategies and link sustained learning to strategic business objectives, today announced that Vafa Akhavan has been named president and chief executive officer.

Akhavan has extensive experience as a global leader, executive, and management consultant, especially with growing training and consulting firms.  He will lead Forum's continued growth as a provider of people-focused solutions that help companies accelerate leadership development, customer experience and sales performance.  

"We're excited and fortunate to have Vafa on board," said John Elsey, CEO of Informa PI Companies, Forum's parent firm. "He brings a combination of talents that will serve Forum well: a commitment to growth and superior customer experience, familiarity with helping clients leverage intellectual property and performance improvement services, operational excellence, and experience in dealing with Fortune 500 brands around the world."

"It's a great privilege to assume leadership of a company that has such a great global brand, rich tradition, accomplished talent, and loyal customers," said Akhavan. "I'm very excited about contributing to Forum's continued excellence."

Akhavan was most recently global vice president at McGraw Hill's Information & Media segment, where he was responsible for daily operational management of key functions in North America, Latin America, EMEA and APAC.

Previously he led the Global Diversified Solutions/Consulting business at J.D. Power and Associates, and also grew two boutique training and consulting firms as managing director. 

Akhavan takes over a company that has been a learning industry pioneer and thought leader for 40 years. Forum has decades of experience in both individual and group behavior change, and boasts global scalability, high-quality research, depth and breadth of programs, and experienced facilitators.

Forum's ability to impact performance and deliver measurable business results has created a loyal clientele that includes more than 130 members of the Fortune 500 from a broad range of industries, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy, telecommunications, professional services, retail, and others.

For more information, visit www.forum.com.

About The Forum Corp.

Forum is a recognized global leader in linking learning to strategic business objectives. Its learning solutions help organizations effectively execute their business strategies by focusing on their most important asset: their people. Forum provides clients with practical and research-based advice and tailored programs that mobilize employees, accelerate business-initiative implementation, and improve agility. Forum's 40-year legacy as a pioneer and thought leader continues with the release of its latest book, Strategic Speed (Harvard Business Press). For more information, visit www.forum.com. 

SOURCE The Forum Corp.

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