Belinda Ioni Rasmussen appointed president and publisher at Walker Books Group

Belinda Ioni Rasmussen has been appointed to the newly created global role of president and publisher at Walker Books Group.

Currently managing director of Macmillan Children’s Books, Rasmussen will join Walker Books with responsibility across the entire Trustbridge Global Media (TGM) publishing portfolio, including Candlewick Press, Holiday House, Peachtree and Walker Books Australia. She will begin her new role after the summer, and will be based in the Walker Books offices in London.

The appointment comes as part of TGM’s strategy to “integrate the management of its book publishing operations, preserve the distinct editorial voices of each publishing house, and grow strategically”. Rasmussen will report into the TGM Board, and specifically to chairman John String.

“Belinda’s leadership will help us capitalise on the strength of our remarkable group, integrating where it makes sense to do so and continuing to leverage creative independence of each publishing house,” String said. “She is a visionary, passionate leader with a proven track record and shares our commitment to bringing important, enduring content to kids around the world.”

During her 12-year tenure at Macmillan Children’s Books, Rasmussen has “substantially grown” the business by focusing on brand management for key titles such as The Gruffalo and Rod Campbell’s Dear Zoo and strengthening the pre-school and fiction lists. 

“Leading Macmillan Children’s Books has been a privilege and it is hard to leave its exceptional authors and illustrators, my team, my leadership colleagues and Joanna,” Rasmussen said. “At the same time, joining Walker group, with its legacy, wealth of outstanding creative talent and global reach is such an exciting opportunity – an adventure I can’t wait to embark upon.”

Prior to joining Pan Macmillan, Rasmussen was the managing director of Carlton Publishing Group, and also spent nine years at Egmont in a range of senior roles, including in international sales and strategic business development. During her time at Egmont, she completed an MBA at the London Business School, while today she also works with charities to ensure books reach children in underserved communities.

Joanna Prior, c.e.o. of Pan Macmillan, said: “As well as growing the business since she joined, the lists have won every major children’s book prize, including this year’s Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize for Pari Thomson and Elisa Paganelli’s Greenwild, as well as winning overall Book of the Year at the 2022 British Book Awards for You Are a Champion by Marcus Rashford and Carl Anka. 

“Belinda is a passionate voice in children’s publishing and has contributed to industry initiatives including World Book Day and Empathy Day, as well as working closely with the major charities including BookTrust and The National Literacy Trust.

“This role at Walker is a brilliant opportunity for Belinda and I am very proud of her [...] I will be starting the search for her successor immediately.”

TGM is focused on content for children and young adults, and operates in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and China. The company has launched the imprint Pixel + Ink and the media division Trustbridge Entertainment, developing projects for film, television and other formats. The expansion of TGM led the board to establish Rasmussen’s position.