Connal to spearhead new narrative non-fiction list at Octopus

Octopus has appointed Claudia Connal as publishing director to head up a new strand of narrative non-fiction within the business.

Connal, who is currently editorial director for non-fiction at Simon & Schuster, joins Octopus on 26th February.

Octopus said Connal would bring "a wealth of experience" to her new role, in which she will be working across categories from ‘smart thinking’ to popular psychology and business.

At S&S Connal currently manages a list that includes Tony Robbins’ Unshakeable: Your Guide to Financial Freedom and neurologists Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai's The Alzheimer’s Solution. She also has worked with psychiatrist Dr Daniel Siegel and co-founder of the David Lynch Foundation, Bob Roth. Prior to that, she was editorial director for Little, Brown.

Denise Bates, Octopus Group publishing director, commented: "Our new narrative non-fiction list is a key initiative for the business and we are very excited that Claudia, with her impressive track record of success, is joining us to spearhead the list."

Connal added: "I am thrilled to be joining Octopus. I have long admired their creative publishing. This is a fantastic opportunity and I am looking forward to building a list of inspiring and thought-provoking narrative non-fiction."