Oliver Malcolm leaves Hodder & Stoughton

Oliver Malcolm, managing director of Hodder & Stoughton, has left the company.  

The recruitment process for Hodder & Stoughton’s managing director will begin imminently, and in the interim executive publisher Jo Dickinson will step up as acting managing director, reporting to Katie Espiner, chief executive of Hachette UK’s Adult Trade Divisions. 

Rumours of the change at the top of one of UK’s oldest publishers circulated at the Frankfurt Book Fair. It is understood that Malcolm is launching his own consultancy. 

Malcolm said: “It’s been a huge privilege playing such a significant role in the amazing and ongoing strategic transformation at Hodder & Stoughton. Over the last two years, Hodder authors have sold more books to more readers and in more countries than ever before.  

“I am hugely proud of the creative and commercial team that has assembled—new and old. I wish them, David [Shelley, Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group USA chief executive officer], Katie and the whole of Hachette worldwide the very best of luck for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.”  

Espiner said: “We would all like to thank Oli for the significant contribution he has made to the business. He leaves with all our best wishes for his next role.”

Malcolm joined Hodder & Stoughton in January 2023. During his tenure, it published bestsellers such as David Nicholls’ You Are Here, Kaliane Bradley’s debut The Ministry of Time, Stuart Broad’s Broadly Speaking. He also restructured the business, reorganised the marketing department, and led a brand refresh of the publisher. Hodder was shortlisted for Publisher of the Year at The British Book Awards in 2024. 

Prior to this, Malcolm worked at HarperCollins for a decade, moving from sales to publishing roles. He started at Random House in 2006.