Deborah Wright becomes c.o.o. at PRH UK

Deborah Wright will step up to chief operating officer (c.o.o) at Penguin Random House UK along with a raft of other changes to the operations leadership team, chief executive Tom Weldon has announced. 

The reshuffle is prompted by the departure of Annette Danek-Akey, chief supply chain officer for Penguin Random House (PRH) US—who oversees Penguin Random House UK distribution. Danek-Akey is leaving the company in August to join Barnes & Noble as its chief supply chain officer.

Weldon revealed that the “investment in our supply chain will ensure that it is efficient, dynamic and sustainable”.

He added: “The recent expansion of our Frating warehouse to bring stock on site, investing in new machinery to improve processes and installing additional solar panels, are just some recent examples of how we’re investing in our supply chain.”

Of Danek-Akey’s departure, Weldon said: “As well as her significant work over many years at PRH US, Annette joined us around 18 months ago to take on the additional remit of managing director of distribution operations here in the UK, alongside overseeing US operations. She has achieved a great amount during her time with us, and her contributions to our UK warehouse operations have been invaluable.”

Of Wright’s new role as c.o.o., Weldon said: “Deborah will continue to expertly lead our distribution, technology, strategic projects, data and facilities functions, and I look forward to working closely with her as we shape our operations strategy for the years ahead.

“As someone who has worked in publishing for more than three decades, Deborah has seen a lot of change in her time. Her leadership and passion for publishing has been vital to the success of some of our most significant transformation programmes, in particular our Penguin and Random House merger.”

Additionally Neil Springall is promoted to the role of distribution operations director at the Frating UK Distribution Centre.

Weldon said: “Neil is passionate about publishing and our brand. He has a wealth of experience, having worked within our distribution operations at Frating for over eight years, helping to navigate his team through significant changes and ongoing sustainability initiatives. I know many warehouse colleagues have already benefitted from his exceptional leadership and will continue to do so as he steps into this role. Neil will report to Deborah in this new remit.  

“With Annette’s departure, Jeff Abraham is now c.o.o. in Penguin Random House US. The new PRH US operational hub based in Grantham will continue to be setup and run on behalf of Penguin Random House US and be led by our US fulfilment team, under Jeff’s leadership together with local management.” 

In May 2023 it was announced that PRH UK was closing its third-party distribution services operation at Grantham. This February it was revealed that the facility will instead be used as the new operational hub for PRH US to fulfil its orders to customers in continental Europe.