Former Carlton m.d. Chance leaves Welbeck

Dean Chance, the former m.d of Carlton Books and current group commercial director of Welbeck Publishing Group, is leaving the firm.

Chance took on the Welbeck role in June 2019, a month after the company was created and following Marcus Leaver and Mark Smith's buyout of Carlton Books.

He had originally joined Carlton as deputy m.d. in November 2016 and was made m.d. at the beginning of 2018. Prior to that he held several leadership roles at DK and PRH UK, most recently in 2016 as PRH UK international sales director.

Chance said: “I have loved my time both at Welbeck and Carlton and have fulfilled many professional ambitions during this period—at Carlton, leading an organisation through a difficult period into an era of sustainable success. And at Welbeck, to play a small part in supporting a wonderful ambitious new company. As always, a business is built upon its people, and both at Carlton and Welbeck I have worked with some of the most resilient and creative people I have ever met. My colleagues are some of the finest talent in the industry and I have been lucky to work with all of them. I wish Welbeck, Marcus, Mark and the team, the greatest of luck in what will surely be an exceptional and unique publishing house.”

Leaver, Welbeck's executive director, added: "We would like to thank Dean for his help in transitioning the business as he has done from the moment we bought Carlton where he had been Managing Director. Mark and I and everyone at Welbeck wish him the best for his future."