Helen Rochester made Thorsons editorial director

Custom Publishing's Helen Rochester is joining HarperNonFiction as editorial director for Thorsons.

Starting at the end of May, Rochester will report to HarperNonFiction publishing director Katya Shipster.

Rochester joined HarperCollins as senior commissioning editor in 2018 and has since published many of Custom publishing’s lifestyle and health titles, including Prosecco Made Me Do It to A Mindful Year and I Love Leopard.

She previously commissioned for Thorsons in 2003, later moving to Macmillan health imprint Rodale, with stints in gift and lifestyle publishing for Laurence King Publishing and Octopus Books.

Shipster said: “I’m delighted that Helen has agreed to return to Thorsons and to her heartland. She has an unerring eye for trend-led publishing and an instinctive cultural barometer, and will be a huge asset as part of our plans for this imprint. I can’t wait for her to get started.”

Rochester added: “A return to Thorsons, to commission in an area I am passionate about, is a dream opportunity. Wellness is trending: yoga, mindfulness and plant-based diets have hit the mainstream, and people are taking control of their mental and physical health more than ever before. I am thrilled to be working with Katya to bring new and exciting titles to our customers both at home and internationally, as well as revitalising the rich Thorsons backlist.”