Moir to replace Atkinson as managing director of Atlantic Books

Drummond Moir has been appointed as the new managing director of Atlantic Books, replacing Will Atkinson. He will join the company in the autumn, reporting to Robert Gorman.

Moir is currently deputy divisional publisher at Ebury, where he has headed their Smart Thinking hub for the past four years. His authors include Head of TED Talks Chris Anderson, award-winning conservationist Charles Clover, psychologist Kimberley Wilson and novelist John Green.

During Moir’s time at Ebury, his hub’s authors have won or been shortlisted for all five of the UK’s leading nonfiction prizes in addition to winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

He was previously at Sceptre and Hodder & Stoughton, which he joined in 2011. While there he published numerous bestsellers and prize-winners including Factfulness by Hans Rosling, The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli and Deeds Not Words: The Story of Women’s Rights, Then and Now by Helen Pankhurst. He was also behind fiction successes such as A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers and World Fantasy Award-winning and Man Booker-longlisted novel The Chimes by Anna Smaill.

Moir said: "I’d like to pay tribute to the editorial and campaigns teams who have achieved such great things for our hub; and to Ebury’s Exec, led by Joel Rickett and Andrew Goodfellow, for such inspiring and supportive leadership during turbulent times.

"Atlantic is a publishing house built on great writing, original thinking, superb storytelling and an endless capacity to surprise and delight: exactly the things readers and listeners the world over need more than ever.

"I’m looking forward to throwing all my energy into working with my new colleagues and our authors to take the company and its publishing to bold new heights."

Gorman, c.e.o. of Atlantic’s parent company Allen & Unwin, commented: "Drummond is both a pre-eminent publisher and an astute leader, and we are delighted he will be heading Atlantic Books. He has a unique feel for great publishing and combines editorial verve, entrepreneurialism and big-picture thinking in a winning way.

"Atlantic’s publishing has a worldwide reputation for quality and breadth, and Drummond’s leadership will further enhance our strong and highly experienced Atlantic team as they continue their ambitious publishing."

Goodfellow, divisional publisher at Ebury, added: "As friend and colleague I’m both sad and very happy to see Drummond moving on. Sad because he’s been such a dynamic, supportive and caring member of the leadership team and happy because I think he’ll make an incredible m.d. for Atlantic.

"He really believed in Ebury and helped transform us into a consistent and focused home for bestselling and prizewinning non-fiction. Thankfully he leaves behind an amazing team that will only continue that spectacular publishing."

In June Atkinson announced he would be stepping down as m.d. at Atlantic. He said: "After nearly nine of the most enjoyable years, it is time for me to hand over the leadership of this wonderful publishing company to someone new. Atlantic has great shareholders, and in our recent discussions of long-term strategy, there were different views on the next steps for the company, so it makes sense for someone else to come in and take Atlantic into the future, and for me to find a new challenge."