Kobo hires Coveney as content lead

Nick Coveney, former digital innovation director at HarperCollins, is set to join Kobo as publisher relations and content lead for the UK, Australia and New Zealand in June.

Coveney makes the move after a year at HarperCollins. Before that he worked at Bonnier’s Kings Road Publishing imprint, leaving in November 2016 to join information and knowledge business Informa as digital marketing director for KNect365, its knowledge and networking division.

The news follows Lindsey Mooney's departure from the firm as content lead for the UK and Australia.

In this new role at Rakuten Kobo, Coveney will be responsible for driving growth for Kobo’s content offering and client support for existing Kobo platforms and services, including the Kobo Writing Life self-publishing platform. Additionally, he will focus on strategic partnership opportunities with the company’s business development team.

He will take up the position on 18th June.

“I have been watching Kobo closely and am impressed with the initiatives the company is undertaking to differentiate its catalogue and services from the competition,” he said. “I’m delighted to be joining the team at such an exciting time, and am up for the challenge of further growing its exceptional offering, as well as discovering new avenues for growth through innovative thinking and the creation of strategic alliances."

Pieter Swinkels, executive vice president, publisher relationships and content, Rakuten Kobo, said the company had seen recent successes with its subscription service in the Netherlands, its audiobook store and with its original content.

“Nick is an experienced leader in innovation and digital transformation, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the team. The opportunities are many, and we look forward to working with him to do what we do best—enable people to enjoy more of their favourite stories, whenever, wherever and how they choose.”

Last week, Kobo revealed plans to release its “smallest, lightest e-reader yet”.