Bonnier consolidates UK divisions under Mann, prepares for 'significant' growth

Bonnier Publishing has consolidated its UK divisions under Perminder Mann, who has been promoted to head of the UK group, as it prepares for "significant growth" in Britain. Mann will now oversee Bonnier Zaffre, IglooBooks and Kings Road Publishing, where she was already c.e.o. Dan Shepherd has left his position as c.e.o of IglooBooks after a year in the role, with his replacement yet to be appointed.

Bonnier Publishing's global activities have been split into three trading divisions: Bonnier Publishing USA, led by Shimul Tolia, Bonnier Publishing Australia, led by Natasha Besliev, and Bonnier Publishing UK, which will now be spearheaded by Mann, to whom all UK employees (apart from those working directly for Bonnier Publishing) will now directly or indirectly report to. In the UK, the changes see the consolidation of Kings Road Publishing, Bonnier Zaffre and IglooBooks into one in favour of "a tighter more simple structure" to make collaboration on key strategies "easier to achieve", Bonnier said. All current companies and imprints will still keep their names and trade individually within the new group, it added.

All current employees and management will continue to work within those companies and there will be no job losses or location changes planned as a consequence of the new structure, the company said. 

Tolia, Besliev and Mann will continue to report to Richard Johnson, group c.e.o, while Jon Perdoni, current c.o.o. of the Kings Road group, has been promoted to c.o.o. of Bonnier Publishing UK. Sharon Parker remains International Group c.o.o.

The changes have been made as part of the company's aim to achieve "significant growth" in the UK.  Johnson said recent yet-to-be-announced deals done for "major" authors and titles will push Bonnier Publishing's annual turnover "nearer to £140m" from £125m.

“As we are about to expand very rapidly in the UK with some major authors and titles about to be announced, we need a tighter more simple structure which will also help clear up the confusion which still exists externally in relation to Bonnier. As a group we are at £125m now and these deals will push us nearer to £140m,” Johnson said.

“Perminder was an easy choice for me to make to head this group up as she is clearly one of the major rising stars in UK publishing today. I have promoted her numerous times already over the last six years and I have no hesitation in doing so again. I would be amazed if there was anyone in this industry who was as forward thinking as her and I am very fortunate to have her in my group."

He added: “Mark Smith will continue the excellent work he has done in developing Bonnier Zaffre and its imprints into a major player in UK fiction and working within Perminder’s new group allows him to draw on a wider pool of employee talent and general resource.”

Mann said: “I am so thankful for the incredible opportunities that Richard Johnson and Bonnier Publishing have given me to date and I accept his decision to promote me into this exciting new role with enormous gratitude. The last few years have been the most exciting of my life. Under Richard's inspiring leadership I have been lucky to be a part of a first class team that fosters creativity and entrepreneurship. This unique approach has made Bonnier Publishing not only the fastest growing publisher in the UK but also one of the most dynamic and innovative places to work. I am proud that we now have many of the industry’s top talent in our group and look forward to working closely with them to take Bonnier Publishing UK to the next level.”

According to Bonnier the search to replace Shepherd as c.e.o of IglooBooks has begun. He joined Bonnier Publishing from DK, where he was global sales and marketing director at DK Worldwide, one year ago in May 2016.