Hachette Children's restructures PR team

Hachette Children’s Group has restructured its PR department with two new appointments and three promotions after the former head of publicity left to go freelance.

The newly-unveiled roles include head of PR for Hodder and Quercus and head of PR for Enid Blyton, Enid Blyton Entertainment and new trade non-fiction list Wren & Rook. There have been no job losses in the restructure. However, the group’s former head of publicity Fritha Lindqvist left the group on 10th February after 14 years to pursue a freelance career. She will continue to work with the group on a number of projects.

The restructure follows Katy Cattell’s appointment as group communications director for Hachette Children’s Group (HCG) last month following her move from Egmont Publishing where she was PR and communications director. She has three sub-teams within the overall PR team structure, each managed by a head of PR, reporting to her.

As part of the changes, Dominic Kingston has been appointed to the newly-created role of head of PR for Orion, Orchard, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and new pre-school imprint Pat-a-Cake. He was previously indie publisher Nosy Crow’s head of publicity. He will join HCG’s PR team in March and report to Cattell. Publicist Stephanie Allen will report to Kingston.

Rebecca Logan has been promoted to the newly-created role of head of PR for Hodder and Quercus, reporting to Cattell. Emily Thomas is moving to the group in March from Egmont to become a publicist for Hodder and Quercus and will report to Logan. Sarah Jeffcoate has been promoted from publicity assistant to PR executive and will also report to Logan.

Victoria Rontaler, also promoted from her acting head of publicity role at HCG, steps into the newly-created role of head of PR for Enid Blyton, Enid Blyton Entertainment and the new trade non-fiction list Wren & Rook, reporting to Cattell.

The company will also recruit a full-time, permanent PR assistant who will report to Rontaler.

Cattell (pictured) said: “I am delighted to announce the new structure and roles in the PR team. We will continue to work as one team but this new set-up allows greater focus on each of our imprint groups and provides a better service to our authors, illustrators and licensors. It also aligns the PR team with the creative teams at HCG, enabling PR to have greater involvement in and accountability for each of the titles, and to create coherent communications strategies for every book we publish. I’m thrilled to be working with such a talented team.”

The group’s c.e.o Hilary Murray Hill said: “I can’t think of a more creative or energetic person to be leading the PR team at HCG - Katy has already made a huge impression in her first month and this structure positions us perfectly to provide an outstanding level of publicity service across our list.”

Lindqvist left her role at HCG on 10th February to go freelance at Fritha Lindqvist PR. She has worked with authors and illustrators such as Cressida Cowell and Lauren Child and will continue to work with Nadiya Hussain and with HCG on various projects. She will also be working with EmpathyLab, a new organisation from the founder of The Reading Agency Miranda McKearney which champions the power of books to build empathy.

Lindqvist said: “I decided that after a wonderful 14 years at HCG, I was ready for a new challenge. Whilst I am sad to leave, I'm extremely excited to be embarking on a freelance career and I am thrilled that I will continue working with the talented people at HCG and with their fantastic authors, illustrators and brands.” She can be contacted at fritha@frithalindqvistpr.com.