Bonnier Books adult marketing director Dumughn steps down 

Stephen Dumughn, adult marketing director at Bonnier Books UK’s trade division, is stepping down from his role later this month.

Dumughn joined Bonnier Books UK in 2016 from Little, Brown where he was deputy marketing director. Originally marketing director of Zaffre, Dumughn built the company’s adult trade marketing team from a team of two to the current team of eight.

He was promoted in 2020 to adult marketing director, with his role expanding to include responsibility for the company’s wide adult trade list, comprising the literary imprint Manilla Press, as well as non-fiction imprints Blink, John Blake and Lagom.

Under Dumughn’s leadership, the adult trade marketing team was nominated for multiple Book Marketing Society awards, winning on five occasions. In addition, he has overseen the development of the company’s direct-to-consumer communities, including the Readers Club author programme as well as the genre communities: Memory Lane, Most Wanted and Sharing Our Shelves.

Dumughn said: “I’ve been at Bonnier for almost seven years and it’s been the most rewarding experience of my career to date. I’ve been part of an incredible journey here, and have been proud to play an instrumental part in the rapid growth of the business during this time, as well shaping the vision and strategy for our books and marketing which has resulted in some memorable successes and bestselling campaigns.

“The company is now at a crossroads and entering its next phase of growth and this felt like the ideal moment for me to step away and try something new as I look for my next challenge within the industry. I’ve loved everything about my time here, and I will hugely miss my colleagues and the brilliant marketing team that I have helped build almost from scratch, as well as working with our superbly talented authors, but I’m excited about taking my skills and experience to a new setting, wherever that may be.”

Emilie Marneur, director of audience and business development, said: “During his time at Bonnier, Steve has helped grow our fiction publishing from a standing start to the commercial force it is today.

“His achievements include leading and implementing the marketing strategies behind many of our bestselling authors, including Stacey Halls, Heather Morris, Rory Clements, Christy Lefteri and Robert Peston, as well as helping drive the acquisitions of brand fiction authors Wilbur Smith and Lynda LaPlante and non-fiction bestsellers Parenting Hell and The Future We Choose. I’m thankful for Steve’s many contributions to our success and wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Dumughn’s last day will be Friday 17th February; thereafter, he can be contacted on stephendumughn@gmail.com. The company will begin recruitment for his successor shortly.