Leaver launches Gemini Books Group 

Marcus Leaver, formerly president of Sterling Publishing, c.e.o. of The Quarto Group and co-founder of the Welbeck Publishing Group, has formed Gemini Books Group, with the acquisitions of Imagine That!, Palazzo Editions, Ad Lib Publishers, Mardle Books and Pimpernel Press. 

The announcement said Gemini “will build a publishing business focused on the UK and North American markets through the acquisition of established companies and by incubating start-up businesses in scalable areas of the market”. Gemini’s focus will be on non-fiction gift books and children’s books. 

Jon Rippon, currently managing director of Palazzo and Ad Lib/Mardle, will transition to a new role as group finance director of Gemini. 

Leaver said: “I look forward to working with Jon to build a publishing business where we can focus completely on making and selling great books. We have long-term funding from both sides of the Atlantic that will enable us to build the group patiently, working with our extensive network of partners around the world. These initial acquisitions are an excellent springboard for us and I am pleased Jon is staying with the company in a new guise.”