Cochrane to succeed Martin as PRH Canada c.e.o.

Penguin Random House Canada's c.e.o. Brad Martin is retiring at the end of June, leaving behind a 37-year-career spanning roles across McClelland & Stewart, Penguin, Bantam Doubleday Dell, Random House and Penguin Random House. Kristin Cochrane, who has served as president and publisher of Penguin Random House Canada since 2015, will succeed him. 

Martin began his career in publishing in 1981 as a sales representative at McClelland & Stewart, selling Canadian authors including Margaret Atwood. He moved in PRH Canada in 1984 and was named president in 1996. In March 1998 - the same day the merger of Bantam Doubleday Dell (BDD) and Random House was announced - he joined BDD Canada and rose the ranks to become c.e.o. of Random House of Canada in 2007. In July 2013, he was appointed c.e.o. of the newly formed PRH Canada. Martin is also on the Board of the Writers’ Trust of Canada and of Ludia, Inc., a Fremantle company based in Montreal, and has served three terms as president of the Canadian Publishers’ Council.

Markus Dohle, c.e.o. of the Penguin Random House Group, said Martin's departure was "the culmination of a career of unparalleled accomplishment with our company and in Canadian trade publishing", paying tribute to him for his "passion" for books and publishing and his "dedication" to the business.  

"As a leader, Brad has built an excellent team, and has overseen the successful integration of Random House and Penguin, including the complex and culturally important move from multiple offices in Toronto to one, while keeping the company focused on driving the business forward. He has guided our Canadian division through digital transformation, including overseeing and encouraging the creation of Hazlitt, our award-winning online magazine, along with the ongoing development of an industry-leading sales and marketing team, and the introduction of a Canadian digital audiobook program in 2017," said Dohle. 

"Brad’s hands-on approach and deep understanding of the business has helped to ensure that our Canadian operation has delivered multiple years of record performance, and under his direction, Penguin Random House Canada also leads the industry in cultural and philanthropic initiatives ... During the ten years Brad and I have closely worked together, I have admired his commitment to the advancement of our company, his appreciation and support for his team, and most of all, his dedication to this business we all love. Penguin Random House is today stronger than ever because of him."

Cochrane meanwhile was credited by Dohle as having been "instrumental in helping to make Penguin Random House Canada the publishing powerhouse it is today". She was appointed associate publisher of Doubleday Canada in 2005, having previously been sales director, National Accounts, at HarperCollins Canada. "Over the next 13 years, as she took on more and more responsibility for the publishing groups, her deep know-how of the marketplace and creative instincts helped her to effectively balance and broaden the literary and commercial sides of our publishing programs," said Dohle.

Starting on 1st July, as c.e.o. she will set and implement the day-to-day and long-term publishing and business strategy for the Canadian company. She will now oversee the sales, finance, operations, HR, communications, marketing and publicity groups and functions, while continuing to guide the publishing programs.