Jo Lal joins Trigger as publisher

Indie mental health press Trigger Publishing has appointed Jo Lal from Watkins as its new publisher.

Lal, who previously worked for HarperCollins, co-founded Hay House UK in 2003 before moving on to become publisher for Watkins. She has spent her career specialising in self-help, personal development and well-being.

She said: “Mental health is, thankfully, no longer a taboo subject as we have seen most notably in the recent mainstream press coverage of Mental Health Awareness Week.  I can’t think of a more exciting time to be working with the leading publisher in this field. I am thrilled to be joining Adam, Lauren, Marcus and the team at Trigger to ensure that we produce commercially successful, helpful and meaningful books on mental health, personal development and wellbeing.”

Lal will start the newly-created role on 6th August with chairman Marcus Leaver heralding the appointment as a major step for the firm. The move comes after Trigger’s recent announcement it would launch a trade-focused children’s mental health and wellbeing imprint called Upside Down Books.

Leaver said: “Jo’s extensive experience within publishing, particularly in mind, body, spirit, self-help and personal development categories and her reputation in the industry, will be an immense asset to Trigger. She will be overseeing all aspects of what we do, working with us in London and Newark to ensure that our books are the absolute best they can be, and continuing to increase our commerciality. Our ambition for Trigger is being realised with Jo’s addition to the team.”