Davies made m.d. at The History Press

The History Press has promoted sales and marketing director Tim Davies to the newly-created role of managing director of its UK business, while also launching a new direct-to-consumer website.

Davies, who joined The History Press in 2011, will now lead the company's UK business. The History Press Group c.e.o. Stuart Biles said: "To ensure we are putting the correct resources in place, the Board has felt for some time that giving the UK its own distinct structure, separate from group activities and consistent with the other business units within the international group, will allow it to develop and grow to its optimum potential.

"We are now implementing this plan and I'm delighted that, as a consequence, Tim has been promoted to UK managing director; I'm sure that the UK will develop and flourish under his leadership." Biles said there will be "new opportunities" within the UK business as well as internationally, and said he will be focusing on strategic development "around the globe".

Meanwhile, the company has launched www.thehistorypress.co.uk, developed in partnership with Firsty, with a consumer and ecommerce focus. A newsletter and blog will be part of the online platform, as the publisher plans to grow its subscriber and membership databases. The site also features a "Historypin" channel, which enables members to share and create a digital archive of videos, photographs and audio content along with personal memories.

Looking ahead, the Stroud-based publisher is also planning to have close to 1,500 titles available as e-books by the end of 2013, and estimates that up to 10% of its UK revenues will derive from e-books by that time. The company has so far recorded e-book sales in around 120 countries.

Davies said the publisher's new website would be "a key element in increasing our brand profile, growing our sales and engaging with our expanding community." He said: "Coupled with our rapidly growing e-book programme and our short run print strategy, it represents the next stage in The History Press' digital transformation and we feel both positive and confident in our ability to thrive in a rapidly changing and dynamic market place."