McCauley joins Hachette UK in new media development role

Fern McCauley has moved from The Artists Partnership to Hachette UK in the newly created role of head of media development, where she will be responsible for handling all book-to-film and TV rights deals for the business.  

She joined on 31st January and reports to Rebecca Folland, rights director for Hodder & Stoughton, Headline, John Murray Press and Quercus. 

As part of her new role, McCauley will be responsible for creating a customer-focused sales strategy that will help Hachette UK maximise the potential of the huge range of creative content from across its adult publishing divisions. The aim will be to make sales of film and TV rights to significant content providers a key commercial focus, by further optimising rights income across the company.  

McCauley will work closely with the editorial teams across Little, Brown, Orion, Hodder & Stoughton, Headline, John Murray Press and Quercus on IP development, from creation and media exploration to acquisition.  

Previously an associate agent at The Artists Partnership, McCauley “brings with her a wealth of experience that will prove invaluable when pitching new projects to broadcasters, production companies, streaming platforms and other content providers, both in the UK and internationally,” Hachette said. 

Folland said: “At a time when there’s an increasing demand for content across a variety of platforms, we’re focused on being in the best position possible to work with our authors on maximising these opportunities with ambition and expertise. I’m thrilled that Fern will be joining us as our head of media development, as she brings a wealth of experience, energy and ideas from her work in the film and TV industry, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she will achieve in the new role.” 

McCauley commented: “I’m delighted to be taking on this incredibly exciting new role, which offers brilliant opportunities to work with Hachette UK’s world-class team of editors and authors, and its huge range of creative content. I’ve always loved working at the point where different industries intersect and I’m very much looking forward to adding my experience and passion to Hachette UK’s already superb output.” 

Karen Lawler, head of licensed content, will continue to manage all licensing across Hachette Children’s Group. 

The announcement follows reports of a boom in demand for book-to-film content across streaming companies in particular.