Chance promoted to Welbeck group commercial director

Dean Chance has been promoted from m.d. of Carlton Books to the Welbeck Publishing Group's senior leadership team, in the newly-created role of group commercial director. 

The new role at Welbeck includes responsibility for English language and foreign language co-edition sales, legal, HR, production and IT operations. Chance assumes these responsibilities with immediate effect.

Welbeck executive director Marcus Leaver said: “In a short space of time, Mark and I have found that Dean shares our values and aspirations for Welbeck, which we believe will make Welbeck an exciting place to be in the coming years for authors, staff and commercial partners. The addition of Dean to our senior leadership team, with his significant experience at Carlton and prior to that at PRH UK, is another step towards realising those aspirations.”

Chance, joined Carlton as deputy m.d. in November 2016 and was made m.d. at the beginning of 2018, said: "I am very proud of what we have achieved at Carlton Books over the last 18 months, both culturally and commercially. I am now incredibly excited to help build upon and accelerate that work by joining a like-minded and ambitious leadership team at Welbeck. I look forward to joining Welbeck in this new role and contributing to the group becoming a major force in publishing."

In a statement revealing the appointment, Welbeck said Chance has "successfully realigned the business and has overseen significant growth since his appointment."

He has previously held numerous leadership roles over a 15-year career at DK and PRH UK, most recently in 2016 as PRHUK international sales director.

Leaver and co-executive director Mark Smith, former c.e.o. at Bonnier's Zaffre division, set up Welbeck and acquired Carlton Books in April, with plans to focus on illustrated non-fiction and children’s books for the co-edition market alongside commercial fiction and non-fiction.