Nicol joins Ebury Smart Hub from Penguin Michael Joseph

Penguin Michael Joseph's Laura Nicol has been appointed head of campaigns at Ebury’s Smart Hub and will be making the move next month.

The move sees her depart Penguin Michael Joseph, where she is senior publicity manager. In her new role, Nicol will lead the Smart Hub communications team in creating campaigns for its books.

Nicol joined Michael Joseph in 2016 as a publicity manager, before being promoted to senior manager. She has worked on campaigns such as The Push by Ashley Audrain, The Consequences of Love by Gavanndra Hodge, Dr Richard Shepherd’s Unnatural Causes, and led brand author campaigns for Mrs Hinch and Nadiya Hussain. Before joining Penguin Random House, she worked as a press officer at Edinburgh-based independent Black & White Publishing.

She said: "I’ve had an incredible few years at Penguin Michael Joseph, and though it feels very bittersweet to be leaving my brilliant colleagues and authors at MJ, I’m hugely excited about this new role at Ebury’s Smart Hub. I’ve long admired the incredible team there, and the brilliant voices they publish. After meeting the team during the interview process, I was bowled over by the creativity and energy within the hub, and the wider division. It feels like a really exciting time to be joining the Smart Hub."

Ebury’s Smart Hub list spans memoir, nature writing, investigative journalism, history, politics, psychology and business. Among its roster of authors is Caitlin Moran, Chris Packham, Dara McAnulty, Sheryl Sandberg, Michael Rosen, Jack Fairweather and James O’Brien. it also includes imprints Ebury Press, W H Allen, Witness Books and Ebury Edge.

Nicol, who starts on 1st June, will be reporting in to Chloë Johnson-Hill, acting creative and communications director at Ebury. Chloë said: "We had some excellent applicants for this role, and Laura’s thoughtfulness and creativity shone through - and her track record of stellar campaigns speaks for itself, alongside her work with some of MJ’s key brand authors. I’m really excited about the dynamism, expertise and ‘always on’ approach that Laura will bring to the Smart hub and to the wider Ebury comms team."