Karen Duffy to leave Atlantic Books

Atlantic head of campaigns and associate publisher Karen Duffy will be leaving the company next month, with her role designated redundant.

Duffy joined Atlantic as its first publicity director in 2004 after 17 years at HarperCollins, with an additional acquiring editor’s role as associate publisher. In 2012, Duffy became Atlantic’s first campaigns director, supervising a team of publicists and marketers, with responsibility for all Atlantic’s imprints (Corvus, Allen & Unwin UK, Grove Press UK). She was on the board of directors throughout.

Will Atkinson, m.d. and publisher, said: “Karen has worked at Atlantic pretty much since the beginning. It is therefore impossible to summarise the momentous contribution she has made to the company. Her authors always received the best attention and the highest professionalism.

“A most assiduous and acute reader, Karen is inspiring to her colleagues and sets a high bar for others to follow in terms of sheer graft and commitment. She is a genuine all-rounder, equally comfortable with text, authors and the market. We will miss her.”

Duffy said: “I have so loved working at Atlantic these past 19 years, helping it grow from a transatlantic offshoot of Grove Atlantic Inc. into one of the pillars of Britain’s independent publishing community […] On my way out I am publishing Julia Hollander’s magnificent aria to the joys of singing, Why We Sing, and in the wide world beyond Atlantic I shall look forward to singing new songs in new spaces.”

Duffy will leave Atlantic on 31st March, and will work in a freelance capacity on the Grove Press UK list and a handful of Atlantic titles until 30th June 2023. She can be reached at KDuffyLiterary@gmail.com.