Bonnier's Agius to lead Welbeck's ANZ outpost as Rogers takes over role

Bernadette Agius will move from Bonnier Books UK to become m.d. of Welbeck Publishing Group’s Australia and New Zealand subsidiary while Juliet Rogers (pictured) will replace her at Echo Publishing.

Agius will join Welbeck in January 2022. She has been the general manager of Bonnier Books UK’s Sydney-based imprint Echo Publishing since 2018. 

Her m.d. role is the company’s first appointment following an announcement in July that a standalone publishing company would be established in Sydney with investment from Australian online bookstore Booktopia. Mark Smith, co-founder of Welbeck, will join Agius in Sydney to help lay the foundations for the new business. 

Welbeck said of the subsidiary’s formation: “The initial focus will be on building the sales, marketing, publicity, and operations teams to increase the reach of the existing Welbeck backlist and the 250 new titles per annum coming from the UK publishing programme. Alongside this, a publishing team will be recruited, and a substantial local publishing programme consisting of commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction and children’s books will be created.” 

Allen & Unwin will continue to represent Welbeck in Australia and New Zealand and distribution will move to Booktopia Publisher Services in 2022. 

Marcus Leaver and Mark Smith, co-founders and executive directors of Welbeck, commented: “We are both delighted to welcome Benny on board and are incredibly excited about building a new independent publisher in Australia and New Zealand. We will both be spending a lot of time in Sydney while we build this core part of our business, and we can’t wait to meet and work with new partners and old friends.” 

Agius commented: “I have known both Mark and Marcus for many years and have the utmost respect for their entrepreneurial skills and business acumen. To be invited into the Welbeck team, and to lead the ANZ division is an honour and a blessing. I know we will build an amazing publishing house, and I look forward to bringing together a dynamic team, and working closely with booksellers, authors and agents to bring to ANZ readers books that will be truly cherished.” 

Rogers, who will take over Agius’ role at Echo, has more than 30 years of experience leading publishing businesses in both New Zealand and Australia, including Random House and Murdoch Books. She has chaired the publisher associations in both countries and was the inaugural chair of book trade’s charity the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and vice-chair of the Australian Copyright Council. 

Perminder Mann, c.e.o. of Bonnier Books UK, said of Rogers' appointment: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Juliet has agreed to join us at Bonnier, leading the continued growth of our successful Echo imprint. She has decades of experience  across the industry, both in Australia and New Zealand and internationally and her experience working as a bookseller, publisher and four years at the helm of the Australia Society of Authors has given her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities for publishers and authors alike."

Rogers said: “It’s a dream come true to be offered the chance to once again experience the joy of publishing. 

"To take over from someone who is both my friend and colleague for so many years, is the icing on the cake, as is working with the Bonnier Books UK team who not only proudly lead the industry on the important issues of diversity and sustainability, but also genuinely commit to providing an international platform for our authors. I’m really looking forward to working with the fantastic teams at Bonnier and Echo to grow our ANZ business further.”