Simon & Schuster expands into India

Simon & Schuster is expanding into India with the publishing company being run by its UK m.d. Ian Chapman.

The New Delhi sales, marketing and publishing office and team of regional sales managers will be run by director of sales and marketing Rahul Srivastava, who was previously S&S' sales agent on the subcontinent. Srivastava will report into Kerr MacRae, S&S UK executive director. The publisher's UK office will also provide management and infrastructure support. The business will launch on 1st August, with HarperCollins India providing fulfillment and distribution.

Carolyn Reidy, president and c.e.o. of Simon & Schuster Inc, said: "This new business makes clear our commitment to both the Indian marketplace and global publishing. India is a rapidly developing market for English language books, with a growing retail bookstore presence, and a deep-seated culture that prizes books and literacy, and we are very excited to bring more of our authors’ books to India’s expanding audience of English readers.”

Chapman said: "Our lists match up well with many of the strongest categories in the Indian marketplace, and we look forward to working with Rahul, his team, HarperCollins, and most importantly our new customers in the Indian bookselling community to grow both sales and awareness for our authors and distribution clients.”

The books will be rupee priced and will formatted specifically for the Indian marketplace.