International Literary Properties makes raft of promotions and appointments

International Literary Properties, the global company responsible for the management of literary estates such as those of Ann Rule, Ngaio Marsh and Angela Thirkell, has announced several new hires and promotions in its literary acquisitions teams.

Mary Durkan, who was previously a senior consultant at ILP and joined the senior management team earlier this year to head literary acquisitions in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, has recruited Thomas Gustafsson into the new position of vice-president, acquisitions for Europe.

Gustafsson brings more than 25 years’ experience in senior management and joins ILP from the dual roles of chief business development and strategy officer and head of film/TV and music at the Astrid Lindgren Company in Sweden, where he helped transform the Astrid Lindgren literary estate into a successful rights company.

Meanwhile the US acquisition team has been expanded with the promotion of Molly Cusick to the new role of vice-president, North American acquisitions and publishing, and Max Hinchcliffe to vice-president of corporate development.

The organisation said Cusick’s new role is “a natural next step” from her previous position leading literary programmes alongside publishing and agency relationships.

In her new role, she will spearhead the acquisition of literary IP and work in conjunction with acquired authors’ and estates’ existing literary agents and publishers to support and expand their publishing programs worldwide. Cusick’s previous role as vice-president, literary, will be taken by Sarah Yake.

ILP says Hinchcliffe has been a key part of International Literary Properties’ team for more than two years. Having started his career covering industrial companies in Morgan Stanley’s institutional equities division, he has worked in strategy and mergers and acquisitions for start-ups in various industries. Noah Goodman also joins as an acquisitions analyst, reporting to Hinchliffe.

Scott Hoffman, president of ILP, said: “With this expanded team in charge of acquisitions, ILP is well positioned to accelerate its acquisitions of literary estates in the UK, Europe, the US, and around the world. We’re extremely fortunate to have been able to bring two seasoned executives such as Mary and Thomas on board, and look forward to seeing even more activity in investing in North America under Molly’s direction.”

Hilary Strong, chief executive officer of ILP for UK and Europe, also commented: “ILP has grown significantly since its first acquisitions in 2020 and the hiring of Mary Durkan earlier this year, and now Thomas Gustafsson into this important new European role, will ensure that the business continues its ambitious acquisition strategy with the same level of rigour and care as it expands territorially.”