Orion's Jennifer Wilson becomes managing director of Hodder & Stoughton

Hachette UK has appointed Jennifer Wilson as managing director (MD) of Hodder & Stoughton following Oli Malcolm’s departure.

Currently deputy MD of the Orion Publishing Group, Wilson has also held senior sales roles at Hachette UK and Penguin Random House, including sales director at both Orion and Hodder & Stoughton.

She will take on the role from 3rd March 2025 and will report to Katie Espiner, chief executive officer (CEO) of the adult trade divisions at Hachette UK.

Espiner said: "I have had the extreme good fortune of working closely with Jen for many years. She combines razor-sharp commercial instincts with great emotional intelligence and a passionate advocacy of our authors and teams. I know she will excel as MD at Hodder & Stoughton."

David Shelley, CEO of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group, said: "Jen Wilson has been consistently impressive since joining Hachette UK 13 years ago. Her dynamism, positivity and obsession with selling as many books to as many readers as possible makes her an exciting MD for Hodder & Stoughton and I think she will lead the division to new heights."

Wilson said: "Having worked at Hodder & Stoughton for most of last year I have seen first-hand how amazing the authors are and what an incredibly talented team it is. I am so excited to work with them all again, and it is such an honour to be given the opportunity to lead them in the next stage of Hodder & Stoughton’s growth and development.

"Leaving Orion, however, will be hard; I have loved my time there over the past seven years, and I will miss everyone so much. I will continue to cheer on the incredible authors and everyone at Orion from not too far away." 

Malcolm left the role last November and has since launched an eponymous editorial agency.