Icon launches Jonathan Ball imprint in UK led by Boraine

Icon books is launching a new imprint in the UK, spearheaded by Jonathan Ball publishing director Jeremy Boraine.

Jonathan Ball Publishers (JBP), a division of the South African media group Media24, acquired Icon in April 2020, and the imprint will take its name from the division.

Boraine, who is currently based in South Africa at Jonathan Ball, will join Icon’s London office in April, commissioning  non-fiction with a focus on current affairs, biography and history. He will report to c.e.o. Philip Cotterell and will be attending the London Book Fair.

He has held the position of publishing director at JBP for the past 15 years, and before that he was publisher at Penguin South Africa. He has worked for various newspapers and book publishers including a stint at Penguin Books in the US. His list of authors has included Tony Leon, former leader of the opposition in South Africa, Mark Gevisser who wrote a biography of former President Thabo Mbeki, and radio presenter Redi Tlhabi. In 2021 he published Lord Peter Hain’s memoir, A Pretoria Boy, which was published by Icon books in the UK.

"I am delighted to have this opportunity," he said. "Jonathan Ball Publishers’ reputation for publishing truth to power was forged under Apartheid and the decades that followed, and I hope to bring some of this investigative tradition to the books I publish in the UK."

Cotterell added: "The launch of the Jonathan Ball imprint in the UK is the next step in a planned expansion of Icon’s publishing operation over the next few years and we are delighted that Jeremy has agreed to head the list. He brings years of publishing experience and creativity to the team."