APA Publications appoints Mizak as m.d.

APA Publications, publisher of Insight Guides and Berlitz, has appointed Agnieszka Mizak to the role of managing director.

Formerly APA’s publishing director, Mizak took on the newly created role of m.d. on 1st July 2017, reporting to c.e.o. René Frey.

Alongside this appointment, APA has expanded its sales and marketing team with the creation of three new roles. Aleksandra Pflumio has been promoted internally to export key account manager, with responsibility for Europe, Asia and Australia. Tatiana Polivoda joins the company as export key account manager, with responsibility for US, African and Middle Eastern territories, and brings international expertise from prior roles at Taschen and as an independent sales professional. Joanne Owen (previously of Bloomsbury, Macmillan, Walker Books and Nosy Crow) will manage marketing and press activity. This expansion follows the appointment of Vanessa Clarke to UK key account manager. Clarke joined Apa in spring 2017, and has brought a "wealth of experience" from previous senior sales roles at HarperCollins and Macmillan, a spokesperson for the company said.

Frey said the new appointments will help support the "very positive development" of the company. “I’m very glad Agnieszka has taken up this position - it’s an appointment I’ve had in mind for some time", he said. "With three new sales people in place, we’re much closer to our clients, and wherever we present our products and vision, customers are delighted. This strengthening of our sales and marketing team will continue to support our very positive development.”

Mizak added hat the company had been outperforming the market with its travel guide sales. “While the UK travel guide market has generally experienced a slight downturn, we’re proud to be seeing growth, in particular across our Insight Explore and Insight Pocket series," Mizak said. "With our experienced sales and marketing team in place, we’re looking forward to an even more positive future.”