Johal to join Macmillan Children’s Books as senior editor

Gurnaik Johal is joining Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) as senior editor. 

He will start on 16th January 2023 and will support the MCB fiction brands and also acquire new fiction and non-fiction in both middle-grade and YA. 

Johal is currently editor at Hachette Children’s Group, where he has been managing established series like Beast Quest and the bestselling Where’s the Poo?, alongside the extensive Orchard backlist. He has also been developing and acquiring new titles and several IP projects in a range of genres, from preschool to YA, including Have You Heard Of? and Xtinct. 

Samantha Smith, publisher of fiction, non-fiction and picture books at MCB, said: “We’re tremendously pleased to be bringing Gurnaik Johal to our fiction and non-fiction team. His keen commercial eye and editorial agility will be invaluable as we build on the next exciting stage of bestsellers and market growth.” 

Johal added: “I’m excited to join the friendly and dynamic Macmillan team. They’ve got a great and varied list and I look forward to seeing how it will grow.” 

Emma Jones, editorial director, MCB, also commented: “Gurnaik, with his brilliant editorial instinct and great commercial publishing experience, will be a real asset to the team at a time of exciting growth for our list. We can’t wait to welcome him to Macmillan!” 

Johal is also an author and his fiction début, We Move, is published by Serpent’s Tail.