London Book Fair announces raft of speakers including HarperCollins’ Murray 

HarperCollins president and chief executive Brian Murray is headlining the main stage at London Book Fair this year. 

Murray will open the programme on 18th April with a keynote interview entitled “Shaping the Business and the Art of the Book Industry”. A session labelled “Global Outlook and Value of the Publishing Industry” featuring Nigel Newton, president of the Publishers Association and Karine Pansa, president of the International Publishers Association will follow.

International author of the day Colson Whitehead, whose latest book Crook Manifesto will be published by Doubleday in summer 2023, will be in conversation on the 18th. Nigel Wyman, sales and marketing director of Gardners Books, will discuss the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on writers and how the book industry can support them, and Dan Conway, c.e.o. of the Publishers Association, will join a panel discussing copyright in a global context. 

There will be a discussion of the evolving landscape of creative content and its bridge between streaming channels, chaired by Emily Hayward-Whitlock, head of lit and book to film at The Artists Partnership.

Wednesday the 19th will see conversations with illustrator of the day Dapo Adeola and author of the day Ann Cleeves as well as a celebration of inclusivity and representation in the book and publishing world with Perminder Mann, c.e.o. of Bonnier Books, Meryl Halls, m.d. of the Booksellers Association, Kate Wilson, c.e.o. of Nosy Crow and Irum Fazal, founder of Asian Women Writers.

On 20th April, a senior spokesperson from Nielsen Data will reveal the most popular books selling around the world in 2023 with a focus on trends observed in the children’s market. Among other sessions, Sanphy Thomas, m.d. of Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Jasmine Richards, founder of Storymix, and Leah Hernandez, c.e.o. of Young Authors Publishing, will ask what the book industry can do to address key society topics.

Gareth Rapley, director of the London Book Fair, said: “The main stage was a popular addition to last year’s fair and I’m delighted that we are able to deliver another exciting and extensive selection of discussions to the London Book Fair 2023. We are honoured this year to present a selection of industry big hitters, ranging from international publishing organisations to indie publishers, multimillion-selling authors, book retailers and media executives. The main stage will be an opportunity for not-to-be-missed debate and discussion and we are looking forward to hearing the insights and innovations of this world-leading array of speakers.”

Further details will be revealed in the run-up to the fair and will be available here.Visitor registration is now open here.