Braybrooke joins Bonnier to launch new imprint as Slight steps up at Scribe

Scribe UK publisher and m.d. Sarah Braybrooke is to join Bonnier Books UK, becoming the publishing director of a new non-fiction imprint. Her departure sees Molly Slight, Adam Howard and Aoife Datta all promoted at Scribe, with Slight appointed publisher at the firm.

Braybrooke will launch her currently unnamed imprint in June when she joins the company, reporting to c.e.o. Perminder Mann. The imprint will publish between 10 and 12 titles a year, spanning memoir, history, politics, current affairs, psychology, investigative writing and neuroscience. 

She forged her career at Scribe, joining the independent publisher 11 years ago as a publicist at its head office in Melbourne. She also chairs the Independent Alliance Diversity & Inclusion Group.

“The 11 years that I have spent at Scribe, initially based in its head office in Australia and subsequently working to establish a UK branch and operations in the US, have been wonderful and the best education in publishing that I could have dreamed of," Braybrooke said. "Leaving for Bonnier Books UK was a tough decision, but I’ve long admired Perminder’s leadership from afar, and I love the idea of being part of a dynamic, growing team at a company with such big ambitions.

"Focusing on original ideas and consummate storytelling, the new imprint will be devoted to narrative and commercial non-fiction; books which shed a light on important topics and take you on journeys into the unknown. From psychology and memoir titles to reportage and books about history or technology, I will be looking for the best and most urgent new non-fiction writing from the UK and further afield.”

Mann commented: "I’m thrilled that Sarah has agreed to join us to lead our new narrative and commercial non-fiction imprint. An intellectually curious, dynamic and entrepreneurial publisher, I’ve admired her approach to publishing for some time now. Sarah is a true all-rounder and working her way up the rungs of a family-owned, international publisher has given her invaluable experience in building and managing teams and developing robust publishing strategies. She will make a fantastic addition to the Bonnier Books UK team and play a pivotal role in the next phase of our growth.”

As Braybrooke steps down at Scribe in April, Slight, who is currently editorial director, will assume the role of publisher, while Howard is promoted to marketing and publicity director and Datta becomes publicity and marketing manager. 

Slight, who has been with the company for eight years, said: "Sarah has done an incredible job establishing and growing the UK office over the past nine years. We will miss her dearly and wish her all the best for the future.

"It’s fantastic to be taking up the role of publisher at such an exciting time for the company: we have an exceptional team, including Scribe stalwarts Adam Howard and Aoife Datta, who are both hugely deserving of their promotions, and last year our print sales increased by 35% and our turnover hit £1.5m for the first time."

This year Scribe will be publishing new books by Gavin McCrea, Jessica Gaitán Johannesson, Nino Haratischvili, John Darnielle, and Clarissa Goenawan, and welcoming critically acclaimed writers including Helen Rappaport and Anjali Joseph to its list.

"We are particularly excited to launch debut novelist Ryan O’Connor’s The Voids in March, which has already been flagged by Foyles, the BBC, the Face, and I-D as a book to look out for in 2022, as well as publishing award-winning journalist Moya Sarner’s first book When I Grow Up in June and Maori writer Becky Manawatu’s debut novel Auē, which has been a huge bestseller in New Zealand, in August," Slight added.

Slight will continue to acquire literary fiction and narrative non-fiction in her new role, while recruitment for a new editor specialising in commercial and serious non-fiction will begin immediately.

Scribe founder and owner Henry Rosenbloom said: "I’m very sorry to see Sarah leave us, but I’m thrilled that we have such talented and committed staff capable of stepping up and assuming greater responsibilities."