Ladybird's Cullen appointed Quarto group publisher for children's trade

Shannon Cullen is leaving Ladybird to join Quarto as group publisher for children's trade.

Cullen will succeed Katie Cotton who is moving to Magic Cat in January 2022. 

After starting her career at Collins Education, Cullen has been at Penguin Random House companies for more than 18 years, moving from Puffin in 2017 to manage Ladybird across licensing, trade and education. In 2011 she co-founded the Commonword Children’s Diversity Writing Prize and has worked across many initiatives to widen representation in children’s publishing, including WriteNow and Undiscovered Voices.

She said: "Quarto Kids is a hub of creative and commercial success, and I’m very excited to join the team and build on this energy together. The strong support of David [Graham, Quarto c.e.o.] and Alison [Goff, Quarto chief executive] for the children’s lists ensures the future holds even greater opportunities to grow and innovate, and to continue enriching children’s lives through books. After many happy years at Penguin Random House the chance to join the Quarto Group at this pivotal time proved irresistible, but I know I’m leaving Ladybird in the very capable hands of my brilliant colleagues."

David Graham, UK c.e.o. of the Quarto Group, said he was "absolutely delighted" at Cullen's appointment, adding: "Our roster of bestselling and prize-winning children’s imprints is one of the jewels in Quarto’s crown and the kids’ programme has enjoyed exponential growth in recent years. Finding the right candidate with the breadth of knowledge in the children’s market and the developed skill-set to lead our exceptionally talented creative team and take the programme to the next level was not an easy task. But I am certain that in Shannon we have the perfect candidate to build on the considerable strengths of the list and to take the business in new and exciting directions. Shannon joins at an important and exciting juncture in the Quarto Group’s history, and I look forward to welcoming her to the team in the very near future.”