Fiona Robertson's departure from Watkins sparks restructure

Watkins, Nourish and Moon + Bird publisher Fiona Robertson is leaving Watkins Media after 14 years to launch her own eponymous editorial company and focus on the upcoming publication of her nature memoir Stone Lands: A Journey of Darkness and Light Through Britain’s Ancient Places (Robinson). 

In light of Robertson’s departure, Watkins has announced a series of promotions and structural changes to its editorial team.

Senior commissioning editor Ella Chappell has been promoted to editorial director and will now oversee the Watkins and Nourish imprints. Commissioning editor Sophie Blackman will now report to her.

Bookseller Rising Star and head of marketing and publicity Laura Whitaker-Jones will now oversee the editorial, marketing and publicity team for new children’s imprint Moon + Bird, launched last autumn, as head of the imprint. Whitaker-Jones will continue to do publicity outreach for select Watkins and Nourish titles in her new role, balancing this with her new responsibilities.  

Brittany Willis has been promoted to the role of commissioning editor at Moon + Bird, reporting to Whitaker-Jones. Willis will also continue supporting the adult editorial team as a project editor for the Watkins and Nourish colour lists.  

Editorial manager Daniel Culver has been promoted to the newly created position of editorial operations director, heading up a new central team of editors "who will be responsible for taking Watkins Media books to print readiness", the company said. This team will include Gigi St John, who has been promoted from digital production assistant to the new role of project manager as well as Chris DeVeau, managing editor for the Repeater imprint and Caitlin Nolan, who joins the team as editorial assistant, reporting to Willis. 

Robertson said: "It’s been an incredible 14 years at Watkins, which have included publishing some truly awesome books as well as starting up our magical children’s imprint Moon + Bird.  

"While I’m so sad to be leaving the fantastic team and all my wonderful authors, I’m also very excited about what the future holds for me, and for my brilliant colleagues who are now taking up the reins. I’m thrilled that Watkins will be my very first client and I look forward to connecting with other publishers (please do email me on fionarobertsonbooks@gmail.com)." 

Stone Lands will be published by Robinson in June 2025 following a four-way auction. It follows her journey across 12 "stone lands", from West Penwith and Avebury to the Lake District and Orkney amidst her husband’s cancer diagnosis. 

Deputy managing director Vicky Hartley said of the changes: "We wish Fiona huge success with her new book and are delighted to continue working with her on a freelance basis. After careful consideration, we decided that restructuring the editorial department would empower our talented team at Watkins.

"This change will allow our creative team to focus on discovering and nurturing writers while our operations team will manage our busy list. We’re confident this structure and the fantastic people we have will ensure a successful future for Watkins, Nourish and Moon + Bird."

Watkins Media self-distributes titles from six vibrant imprints and sibling publisher Collective Ink in the UK; Penguin Random House Publishers Services distributes its books in all territories.