Sarah Savitt moves to Virago

Virago has appointed Sarah Savitt, currently publishing director of Headline and Headline Review, as deputy publisher at Virago. 

Savitt will take up her new job, reporting to the publisher Lennie Goodings, at the end of June.

During Savitt's time at Headline, which she joined in September 2015 after eight years with Faber, she published paperback bestseller Alone in the Dark by Karen Rose and acquired two debut novelists. 

At Faber she published Richard-and-Judy-pick Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty; the Costa Award shortlisted The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer and prize-winning debut novels by Chibundu Onuzo and Marjorie Celona.

Savitt said: "Headline has been a wonderful home for me and I am very sad to be leaving. I have learned so much from my outstanding colleagues, and have been proud to work with many talented authors. I am now thrilled to be joining Virago, a list I have long admired and loved, both for its incredible heritage and the vibrancy of its current publishing. Virago means a lot to me as a reader and as a feminist, and I look forward to being part of its future."

Goodings added: "I am so happy that Sarah has decided to come to Virago. She has an impressive track record in fiction and non-fiction that really suits our list; she has taught writing and editing with the Faber Academy, with Arvon and on Guardian Masterclasses and she has energy, talent and ideas that we very much welcome. She’ll be a wonderful addition to our team - joining me, Donna Coonan, director of the Virago Modern Classics and Ailah Ahmed, commissioning editor (for both Virago and Abacus). I couldn’t be more pleased."

Managing director of Headline Mari Evans said: "Sarah's time at Headline sadly proved all too short but even so she has had terrific impact in that time. I am glad she’s not leaving Hachette. We wish her well as she takes up this, her dream job, at Virago."