Bob Jackson retires from Gardners

Gardners’ commercial director Bob Jackson is retiring from the wholesaler after 26 years.

Jackson’s position is not being replaced directly, but current head of sales Nigel Wyman will take over responsibility for the company’s UK business under the title head of business development (UK), while sales development manager Aidan Lunn will manage the international market for the company after Jackson’s departure as head of business development (international).

Jackson began at Gardners in 1991 after beginning his career in publishing with Hodder & Stoughton, where he worked for 19 years. He has lead a steady ship at the wholesale and has been a regular entry in the The Bookseller's 100 list.

Managing director Jonathan Little said: “Over the years (Jackson) has shaped, grown and led our sales and marketing departments by example, achieving impressive growth along the way, with annual revenues today exceeding £200m.

“Bob has built up a strong and experienced team, who are now well poised to continue this growth into the future.”

There is no further changes to the Gardners’ senior management team. Jackson’s last week of work will be the week of London Book Fair (to 17th March), after which Jackson plans to “enjoy a long-planned holiday with his wife,” according to Little.

“We will all truly miss Bob’s input, energy and enthusiasm, and I am sure that many within the book trade will join me in wishing him well as he enters this new and well deserved chapter in his life,” he added.

Jackson told The Bookseller he was optimistic about the future of the book industry. “For 45 years I have been fortunate to work in a fantastic industry. Always enjoyable, working with creative and energetic people," he said. "I'm very optimistic about the future of the book Industry and I will still be watching developments, but from a more leisurely viewpoint.”