Hudson to become DK c.e.o

Ian Hudson is to become chief executive of DK, reporting to Penguin Random House chief executive Markus Dohle.

He replaces John Duhigg, who is leaving the business after 25 years with Penguin and DK in a variety of executive positions. Duhigg leaves on 30th June, with Hudson stepping up on 1st July.

Hudson will relinquish his current dual positions as c.e.o, International (English Language), Penguin Random House, and deputy c.e.o, Penguin Random House UK. He will continue to be based in London.

Following Hudson’s move to become c.e.o of DK, the international businesses will report to Dohle, including Julie Burland, c.e.o of PRH Australia and New Zealand, Steve Connolly, m.d of PRH South Africa, Jo Lusby, m.d of PRH North Asia and Gaurav Shrinagesh, c.e.o of PRH India.

The UK executives who reported to Hudson will now report to PRH UK c.e.o Tom Weldon and the role of deputy c.e.o will now cease to exist.
 
Hudson handled digital, operations, finance, production, legal, sales and strategy for PRH UK, whereas Weldon handled publishing, rights, HR, communications and branding. Weldon will now take on responsibility for all arms of the UK business, with the following people all reporting to him instead of Hudson: Maud Watson, group commercial director, international and special projects, Paul Kelly, group strategy and commercial director, Mark Gardiner – group finance director, Helena Peacock/Sinead Martin group legal director (Helena retires June 1st and Sinead assumes role), Mike Symons, group sales director, Hannah Telfer, m.d for audio and group director consumer and digital development, Deborah Wright, group operations director and Stephen Esson, group publishing operations director.

Hudson has spent two decades at Random House, and three years at PRH. He acted as m.d. from 1996-9 at Random House Children's, before becoming group managing director and then deputy chief executive for Random House UK, where he led the acquisitions of controlling stakes in BBC Books and Virgin Books, and engineered the group’s digital transition.

The letter addressed to Penguin colleagues from Dohle said: "Ian made an invaluable contribution to the creation and implementation of Penguin Random House. In the UK, he has been instrumental in optimizing our operations and infrastructure. In his international role, together with local management, he integrated our companies in Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa, overseeing many vital organizational and business changes.”

Dohle added: "I believe Ian’s international publishing experience, institutional knowledge, and operational expertise make him the ideal person to lead DK and its global operations into the future. Please join me in congratulating him."

Dohle praised Duhigg as an "outstanding leader of DK" for having "enhanced the DK brand and strategically expanded the company’s portfolio globally into children’s and educational publishing programs, and with key brand licensors".

Hudson continues as chair of the Bertelsmann Management Representative Committee, and in that capacity as a member of the Bertelsmann Supervisory Board.