Bradbury and Stroud step up in HarperCollins Children's promotion spree

HarperCollins Children's Books has announced a raft of new promotions, with Kirsty Bradbury (pictured) stepping into the newly created role of publishing strategy director while Geraldine Stroud is appointed brand, marketing and communications director.

Bradbury joined HarperCollins as UK sales director. Her new role will be effective from 1st July and will see her managing HarperCollins Children’s Books overall publishing operations including the strategic management of the backlist and worldwide publishing plans. She will be succeeded by Jasmeet Fyfe, currently head of sales and formally of Farshore. Aisling Beddy becomes senior key account manager.

Currently PR and brand communications director, Stroud will also be stepping into a newly created role. She will lead the combined forces of HarperCollins Children's marketing, PR and brand and building long-term strategic growth plans for major brands and authors. Commercial brand and licensing development director John Collins will now report to Stroud.

Stroud joined HarperCollins in 2005 and over the past decade has played a significant role in launching and building key authors and brands including Oliver Jeffers, David Walliams, Derek Landy and David Baddiel, also driving key heritage brands including Mog, Paddington and Narnia.

Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher, said: "I’m absolutely delighted to be announcing these strategic new appointments for HCCB. They are all hugely talented and widely respected figures in the industry, and I am confident they will all play leading roles in driving forward our exciting future publishing plans and ambitious growth strategy."

Anna Derkacz, group sales director, added: "I would like to offer my personal thanks to Kirsty for her fantastic contribution to the HarperCollins sales team. Kirsty and I have worked together for many years and she has been instrumental in helping to build our industry leading sales team here at HarperCollins. I can’t wait to see what she brings to HCCB alongside Ann-Janine and the team. I am also delighted that Jas is stepping into the UK sales director role. Jas has hugely impressed me since Farshore became part of HarperCollins and I am looking forward to her joining my senior team."