In a trading update, the media group said that, in the first four months, trading was in line with expectations and that it expected to generate most of its revenues, and almost all of its profits, in the second half of the year.
Pearson said that its internet division and its business newspapers, which include the FT, were set to benefit from last year's cost-cutting measures and lower operating costs.
The Penguin group, including Dorling Kindersley, is also performing in line with expectations. Both Penguin Putnam and Penguin UK titles are featuring prominently on the bestseller lists although, as it indicated in March, this year's release of new titles is more heavily weighted to the second half of the year.
Pearson also announced that John Makinson, the Pearson finance director since March 1996 and chairman of the Penguin group since May last year, is to become Penguin's full-time chairman and CEO from June 1 this year. Deputy finance director Rona Fairhead will succeed Makinson as finance director.
David Wan, president of the Penguin group, will leave the company in June to take up a new role as chief executive of Harvard Business School Publishing. Peter Jovanovich, chairman and CEO of Pearson's education operations, and Fairhead will join the Pearson board on June 1.
Marjorie Scardino, chief executive of Pearson, said: "We have made a good start to 2002 and, despite the difficult economic climate, we are confident we can produce good earnings growth this year. Over the past five years, we have reshaped Pearson into a company of first-rank businesses that belong together."
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