Abigail Bergstrom leaves Gleam Futures after five years

Abigail Bergstrom is leaving her role as head of publishing at Gleam Titles following five years with the company.

She joined in 2016, when the company launched its literary arm, Gleam Titles, which represents Mrs Hinch, Scarlett Curtis, as well as Anna Whitehouse and Matt Farquharson. Last July, Bergstrom’s own debut novel What a Shame was pre-empted by Hodder & Stoughton, described by the publisher as “an upmarket commercial” fiction book originally submitted under a pseudonym.

Bergstrom, who was nominated for Literary Agent of the Year at the 2020 British Book Awards and listed in The Bookseller 150, said: “Working at Gleam has been an incredible ride and undoubtedly the most thrilling experience of my professional career. I have loved every single minute and moment and have worked on a list of books too wonderful and long to name. I will miss the people there greatly but am confident we’ll find ways of working together in the future.”

Her final day at Gleam Futures is 19th May. She declined to comment on her future plans.

Phil Hughes, chief commercial officer of Gleam Futures, said: “Abigail is leaving Gleam Titles as a business in an incredibly strong and exciting position, as it goes from strength to strength with a world beating and growing roster. We’re really grateful for everything that Abigail has done for Gleam Futures in building Gleam Titles. We know that Abigail will be exceptionally successful in the future, and I have no doubt that we will work together again.”

Gleam Futures is now recruiting for a new head of publishing to succeed Bergstrom. Megan Staunton has been promoted to junior agent from literary assistant and has since signed the award-winning poet and psychologist Sanah Ahsan as well as midwife and influencer Marley Hall. Laura McNeill joined Gleam Titles as literary agent at the beginning of 2020 and is continuing to build and grow her list, which includes astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst and illustrator Amber Fossey.

Gleam Futures launched in 2010 as a media and entertainment agency and was one of the first businesses to focus on digital-first talent.