Lavelle made Quadrille managing director as Allen joins from Pavilion

Sarah Lavelle has been promoted to managing director at Quadrille while Sophie Allen joins amid a raft of promotions at the Hardie Grant imprint.

Previously the publishing director, a position she has held since 2014, Lavelle takes up the position immediately. 

Commenting on her tenure, Sandy Grant, Hardie Grant founder and chief executive officer, said that under Lavelle, "Quadrille has seen record sales and profit as a highly successful component of Hardie Grant’s international growth."

She said: "Sarah has built a team and list of authors that produce both bestsellers and award-winners – books with strong sales in the UK and rapidly growing sales in the US and Europe. I am proud to make this appointment and sincerely appreciate what she has achieved.”

Among the imprint’s new staffers is Allen, who joins Quadrille as senior commissioning editor. She leaves Pavilion after two years and, before that, she spent 16 years at Kyle Books, having worked with authors including John Whaite, Gennaro Contaldo and the Chefs in Schools charity. 

“Sophie is one of the most experienced and talented illustrated lifestyle commissioners in the business," Lavelle said. "I know she will be an invaluable addition to our brilliant editorial team.”

Allen said: “I have always admired Quadrille for their groundbreaking and award-winning publishing, so I’m thrilled to be joining this vibrant team. I can’t wait to help nurture the exceptional list of existing authors as well as commission new and exciting talent.”

Further internal promotions include Harriet Webster and Stacey Cleworth, who are both promoted to the role of commissioning editor, acquiring across cookery and general lifestyle. Webster has overseen recent commercial successes, including Becky Excell’s How to Make Anything Gluten-Free and Katy Beskow’s vegan books, and Cleworth has commissioned titles from Pippa Middlehurst and the forthcoming book from the Dusty Knuckle bakery. Sofie Shearman has also been made assistant editor, working across food, general lifestyle and wellbeing.