Alltimes moves to Hachette amid changes to children's division

Ruth Alltimes is moving from HarperCollins to become m.d publisher of three arms of the Hachette Children’s Group to help spearhead the company’s “ambitious plans for growth”.  

Alltimes is currently fiction publishing director of HarperCollins Children’s Books and edits David Walliams’ titles, among others, but will take the role of m.d publisher for the editorial teams for Orion Children’s Books, Orchard Books and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on 8th August.

Clare Somerville, currently deputy managing director of Hachette Children’s, meanwhile, will become the commercial director for the division.

Alltimes’ appointment comes admidst other changes to the children’s arm of Hachette. Anne McNeil, Hodder Children’s book publishing director, has been promoted to senior publisher for Hodder Children’s Books, Enid Blyton Entertainment and Quercus Children’s Books. Both Alltimes and McNeil will report to group c.e.o Hilary Murray Hill.

Sarah Lambert, currently editorial director for Quercus Children’s Books, has also been promoted to editorial director for fiction working across both the Hodder Children’s and Quercus Children’s imprints.

Karen Ball, publisher at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has resigned to set up her own business and will leave the Hachette Children’s Group in August. Jon Appleton, fiction editorial director at Hodder Children’s, has also resigned recently.  

Murray Hill said: “I am very pleased to be announcing these changes to our editorial structure, they will enable us to capitalise on the strengths of the imprints, refocus our publishing and foster the creativity of existing editorial talent. Ruth has a superb track-record and I’m excited about what she will bring to the publishing. Ruth and Anne will be spearheading our ambitious plans for growth.”

Alltimes added: “There is huge scope to develop and grow the publishing and I look forward to working with the team and their wonderful authors and illustrators.”

Prior to HarperCollins, Alltimes was fiction publishing director at Macmillan Children's Books and has worked with Lauren Child, Chris Riddell and Holly Smale, as well as editing David Walliams for the last three-and-a-half years.

Helen Thomas, editorial director of Orion Children’s Books, Megan Larkin, publishing director of Orchard Books and Katherine Agar, senior commissioning editor of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers will report to Alltimes.

Hachette merged its three children’s businesses into one on 1st January 2015, appointing Murray Hill, then at Egmont, as its c.e.o. At the time, Tim Hely Hutchinson, c.e.o of Hachette, called the move an “important strategic development” for Hachette.