Ndaba joins FMcM as Rigden steps up as director of media relations

Hope Ndaba will join FMcM as communications manager as the book PR agency grows its team with a raft of new hires and promotions. 

Ndaba has previously worked at Picador, Vintage and Profile and has experience in both marketing and publicity. Most recently, Ndaba has worked with Jamaica Kincaid, Maddie Mortimer and Imogen Binnie, among others. Ndaba has also shortlisted for the PPC Award for Best Debut campaign for Julia May Jonas’ first book, Vladimir (Avid Reader Press).

She said: “After a thrilling two years at Picador Books, I’m excited to be joining FMcM as communications manager. I am looking forward to joining a talented, unique and passionate communications team. I can’t wait to get stuck into book campaigns, inspiring initiatives, literary prizes and more!”

Kealey Rigden, who joined the company from Bloomsbury in 2020, will also step up as director of media relations. She will be continuing to lead key projects for FMcM, including literary prizes, such as the British Book Awards and Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award, as well as high-profile fiction and non-fiction campaigns for authors including Ruby Wax, Hadley Freeman and Marian Keyes, among others.

Joining the agency six years ago as communications manager, Sophie Goodfellow is also promoted to the newly created head of genre role, leading on fiction titles across genres including crime, historical fiction and literature in translation. Goodfellow has recently worked on PR campaigns for Monique Roffey, Dreda Say Mitchell, Ragnar Jonasson and others, as well as festivals such as Capital Crime.

Further hires include two communications assistants, Izzy Warner, who previously worked for mental health charity SANE and ran social media for Gurls Talk, and Antara Patel, who joined the team from Waterstones Gower Street.

FMcM c.e.o. Fiona McMorrough said: “I am delighted to welcome Hope, Izzy and Antara to our creative and collaborative team at FMcM. Individually and collectively, they are bringing a range of passions, interests and experience to the company, which we look forward to drawing into our client campaigns.

"I am also delighted to announce the promotions for Kealey Rigden to director of media relations, who steps up to join the senior team of directors alongside Emma Mitchell, communications director and Helen Clifford, marketing director, and Sophie Goodfellow who becomes our head of genre. Kealey and Sophie are both exceptional in their talents, commitment and dedication to our clients and intrinsic to FMcM, working closely with their colleagues."