Evans moves from MJ to Headline

Mari Evans is to join Headline as publishing director, fiction, with a brief to lead its commercial publishing. She joins from Michael Joseph.

Meanwhile, Marion Donaldson will become executive publisher at Headline, moving from her existing role of director of publishing. Donaldson’s new role will see her with “a roving brief” to acquire new authors to join her existing list which includes Jill Mansell and Simon Scarrow.  

Publishing director Imogen Taylor will be responsible for new imprint Tinder Press, and will continue to develop her list of authors which currently includes Patrick Gale and Daisy Goodwin.

Evans will take up her post in July, and will join the Headline Board. She said: "I've spent ten happy years working at Michael Joseph, publishing stellar authors and working with a stellar team. I've loved Penguin's creative ethos and its unwavering focus on brand publishing has undoubtedly helped me mature as a publisher.

"However, the opportunity to join Headline and work with Jane [Morpeth, Headline m.d.], who has an outstanding commercial vision, was too exciting and persuasive to pass up. I'm relishing the chance to get to know a new list and to experience once more a fresh perspective, particularly at this challenging juncture for our industry."