Main to join Picador as editorial director

Simon & Schuster senior commissioning editor Francesca Main is leaving the publisher to become editorial director at Picador.

She will join on 26th September and will acquire commercial literary fiction for the list. Picador publisher Paul Baggaley said: "Francesca will focus on the core areas of Picador’s publishing, publishing great writing to reach the widest possible readership. I have been hugely impressed by Francesca’s publishing at Simon & Schuster, both in terms of acquisition and also in how she has published her authors with energy and creativity."

Main said: "I have been a fan of Picador novels for many years so to be offered the chance to commission new fiction for the list really is a dream opportunity. I am especially excited to be joining the team on the eve of Picador’s 40th anniversary and very much look forward to the years ahead. 

"Naturally, I am sad to be leaving my wonderful authors and colleagues at Simon & Schuster, but will be cheering them on from the sidelines."

Main joined Simon & Schuster in 2007 after working at Penguin for four years. At S&S she published the likes of Mark Watson, Orange-shortlisted Monique Roffey, Neil Cross, creator of hit BBC1 series "Luther", and Desmond Elliot prize-winner Edward Hogan.