Orion promotes Eribo and Wright to publisher roles

Vicky Eribo has been promoted to publisher at Seven Dials and Pippa Wright has stepped up to publisher for Orion Spring. 

Since joining Orion two years ago as publishing directors, Eribo and Wright “have taken the non-fiction publishing of Seven Dials and Orion Spring from strength to strength", the company said.  

Orion m.d. Katie Espiner said: “Under Vicky and Pippa’s leadership, Seven Dials and Orion Spring have absolutely flourished. They both have such crystal clear and hugely compelling publishing instincts. Vicky has an unerring eye for commercial non-fiction of all stripes and her incredible track record more than speaks for itself.

"Pippa has very quickly established herself as a destination publisher at Orion Spring and I am thrilled that her exceptional publishing is already delivering so much success. They are both so deserving of these promotions and I am excited about how they will continue to lead and shape these imprints.” 

Eribo (pictured, top) said: “I’m so proud of everything we have achieved with the amazing Seven Dials’ authors over the last two years and am delighted to now have the chance to step up in this exciting new role. Our ambition is to establish Seven Dials as a destination imprint for the very best commercial non-fiction for the mass market – I’m so thrilled to be continuing on this journey with the brilliant team at Orion.” 

Orion emphasised the pair's impact on the publishing lists over the past two years. “Vicky Eribo joined Orion in October 2019 to head the Seven Dials list and in her first full year helped to deliver the best financial results the imprint has seen in six years, beating the imprint’s profit budget by an astonishing 17,150% and delivering a 1,334% increase year on year,” Orion said. “In that time Vicky has redefined the ethos of Seven Dials, strategically streamlining the areas of commissioning to create a clear and coherent commercial identity.”

Orion also highlighted Eribo's work on boosting sales of the Hairy Bikers’ books, bringing Dick and Angel Strawbridge to the list, publishing Vinnie Jones’ memoir and former prison officer Dave Berridge’s Inside Parkhurst. “Vicky has had a transformative influence on commercial non-fiction publishing at Orion and with several major acquisitions still to be announced, is ensuring the list continues to grow for years to come,” the publisher added. 

Wright (pictured right) said of her promotion: “This year has been an extraordinary year for Orion Spring, the result of a huge team effort from our outstanding authors and immensely hard-working colleagues. I’m excited for this new role and for all that lies ahead for the future of our market-leading, innovative list.” 

Wright joined Orion Spring in July 2019 and “in 2021 she has led the list to its highest net sales, and profit, since its inception in 2016", according to the publisher. “Between 2019 and September 2021, profit at Orion Spring has grown by 122%.” Her work included Nicole LePera’s How to Do the Work and Davinia Taylor’s It’s Not A Diet, throughout which “Pippa has demonstrated excellent strategic vision, growing and diversifying the list, as well as great skill for talent spotting and working closely with authors to develop and hone ideas”.

Wright also acquired and published titles from Laura Whitmore and Fearne Cotton and neuroscientist Sabina Brennan. Orion added: “In addition to her enormous contribution to the Orion Spring list, Pippa has made a number of notable acquisitions for the Trapeze non-fiction list, including Sandi Toksvig’s Almanac, and Fi Glover and Jane Garvey’s Did I Say That Out Loud?” 

Orion is now recruiting for two senior acquirers.