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Waterstones and Barnes & Noble c.e.o. James Daunt has become the first trade figure to be named person of the year for the second time in The Bookseller's annual listing of the most powerful and influential people in the British book trade.
The list has also been expanded from its traditional 100 to 150 entries, in order to salute those from vital areas in the trade, such as design and production, that may have been overlooked in past. Daunt was named The Bookseller 151st, the "extra" person who the selection committee deemed to have had the greatest impact on the UK's books world in 2019. Past honourees (previously called The Bookseller 101st) include HarperCollins c.e.o. Charlie Redmayne (2018), then-Booksellers Association m.d. Tim Godfray (2014) and Dame Gail Rebuck (2013) and Marjorie Scardino (2012).
Daunt was previously named The Bookseller 101st in 2015. He was praised at the time for bringing Waterstones "back from the brink and into the black". He received the award this year for both his ongoing work at Waterstones and his new role of trying to resuscitate ailing US retailer B&N.
Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller managing editor who led the 150 selection committee said: "Even with the expansion, we had to make a lot of hard choices in coming up with the final list owing to the wealth of talent in the British books industry. But, in a way, Daunt as the 151st was perhaps our easiest choice as he now has arguably the most important bricks and mortar bookselling role in the world."
In the entire 150, there are an equal number of men and women; it is the first time the list has had 50/50 gender parity since it launched in 2009. Ten percent of entries come from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
Owing to the 150's expansion there are a record 51 first-time entries. This year's débutants include Booker Prize-winner Bernardine Evaristo; Sarah McIntyre, the children's book creator who runs the Pictures Mean Business campaign to get greater recognition for illustrators; Bob Johnston, owner of Dublin and Dalkey's The Gutter Bookshop; grime artist Stormzy, who launched his #MerkyBooks imprint with Penguin Random House this year; and Kumsal Bayazit, who was named Elsevier c.e.o. in February.
There are also 15 "evergreens", those who have been on all 11 of the 100/150 lists. These include PRH c.e.o. Tom Weldon, Curtis Brown joint-c.e.o. and head of books Jonny Geller, Transworld m.d. Larry Finlay and Four Culture c.e.o. Dotti Irving.
The entire 150 is here, while Daunt's entry for the 151st is here.