Goode joins Hachette Children's as sales director

Nicola Goode is leaving DK as head of sales to join Hachette Children’s Group in February as sales director. She replaces Jason McKenzie, who will be leaving the company at the end of January.

At the same time, Helen Marriage, currently DK's acting marketing and PR director, has replaced Goode as DK's head of UK trade sales.

Goode has worked at Penguin and DK, in contracts, royalties, inventory and as publishing manager within the Penguin children's team, before joining DK sales seven years ago where she worked as head of sales across the UK trade and, more recently, adding key international territories to her responsibilities.

McKenzie has decided to leave Hachette Children's because for the past 15 years he has "spent four hours a day commuting and he says he needs a break from South West Trains”, according to the company. Hachette did not confirm whether McKenzie has another position to go to after January.

Lucy Hale, Hachette group sales director, said: "We are delighted that Nicola is joining the Hachette group sales team. Her talents and unique mix of experience are the perfect match for our exciting publishing programme and ambitious brand strategy.”

Hilary Murray Hill, c.e.o. of Hachette Children’s Group, said: "I am extremely pleased to welcome Nicola to the Hachette Children’s team.  Her record and experience are absolutely second to none and she is joining the group at a very exciting time in terms of our development.  Nicola’s intuitive understanding of managing major brands and her obvious managerial skill will be a tremendous asset.”

Goode added: “I am delighted to be joining the HCG and am looking forward to working across the wealth of great brands and authors within the portfolio and building on their current success.”

In Marriage's new role as DK's head of UK trade sales, succeeding Goode in January, she will report to UK sales director Ian Moore and will be responsible for all UK trade customers across the entirety of the DK publishing programme.

Marriage started her publishing career at Headline Publishing before joining Ebury Press as marketing director. She also worked for Transworld and HarperCollins, before moving into children’s publishing with Hodder Children’s Books.

DK welcomed her publishing experience, with knowledge of the trade and independent market, particularly within the children’s and education sector, which it said continues to be a "key priority" for its business. "This experience, combined with Helen’s commercialism, first class leadership skills and the relationships she has built within the industry, will ensure she will be extremely successful in her new role," said DK.

Moore added: “We are delighted that Helen is joining the DK sales team. She brings an impressive wealth of publishing experience and product knowledge to the role and will be an excellent addition to the sales team as we embark on an exciting 2017 publishing programme.”

In June this year, Ian Hudson became c.e.o of DK, reporting to Penguin Random House c.e.o Markus Dohle.