Dawson, who joins on June 2, replaces Charlotte Hunt who left Emap to pursue a career in teaching. Dawson has more than 14 years' classified sales experience at BBC Magazines.
Emap Advertising is introducing a new classified phone system to provide clients with improved service. It will also retrain its sales teams.
Dawson will report to Rory Bett, Emap's head of youth magazines. He said: "Classified advertising is an important part of our business plan in 2003 and we are delighted to have Gary at the helm to drive this forward."
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