Octopus deputy c.e.o. Welham to retire

Octopus Publishing Group deputy c.e.o. Andrew Welham has announced he is retiring after 12 years with the firm.

Welham, who joined the Hachette company in 2007 after a 23-year career with Penguin, will officially step down at the end of this year.

Octopus c.e.o. Alison Goff said Welham had been “hugely important in helping Octopus to become the diverse group it is today” and helped her build an empowering, commercial culture, launching Octopus USA, new imprints and making company acquisitions.

She said: “The group as it stands today is a tribute to the dedication and hard work he has put in helping to steer us through some incredible challenges whilst always retaining a sense of optimism which has been uplifting to all. We have been incredibly lucky to have Andrew as part of the team and have huge appreciation for the difference he has made.”

Goff said Welham had offered “wise counsel” to help mentor people from all rungs of the career ladder in Octopus and across the group.

She went on: “On a personal level, it has been very special to work alongside someone who has shared my values and vision for the group and helped me deliver on those to make Octopus what it now is. I think we will all miss Andrew as the host of our legendary pub quizzes  (and his very accurate score keeping !) but perhaps not his dubious taste in dressing up at sales conferences...

“There will be a proper goodbye to Andrew later in the year and over the next few months I will be working closely with him and his team to plan for the future.”