Phillips moves to HCG as Egmont promotes Clark

Egmont rights director Tracy Phillips is moving to Hachette Children's Group (HCG) to replace Andrew Sharp, who is leaving publishing to train as a teacher.

Phillips (pictured above), who was previously group rights director across adult and children’s at Simon & Schuster, has been at Egmont for four years. 

HCG c.e.o. Hilary Murray Hill said she is "delighted" that Phillips will head up "our world-class rights team". 

She said: "Tracy will bring new ideas and strategies with her to drive our international business to even greater success. She has an enviable record of rights revenue growth at Egmont, allied to strong strategic insights.  I am looking forward to working with her and welcoming her to our senior management team.”

Egmont senior rights manager Juliette Clark (pictured right) has been promoted to replace Phillips. "Highly commercial and professional, she has made a significant contribution to recent international hits, including The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, The Amelia Fang series by Laura Ellen Anderson and the worldwide launch of Roblox," said Egmont. 

Clark, who has worked at Egmont for six years, will be responsible for a five-strong rights team, selling rights and co-editions across Egmont’s Fiction, Picture Book & Gift and Brands & Licensing lists. 

M.d. Cally Poplak said: "The training and development of our staff is hugely important, so I am delighted to be able to promote a star within the business to this role, which is vital to the success of Egmont’s broad and diverse portfolio for all children."

Clark added: "I’m delighted to take over the position of rights director at Egmont and excited to work on more fantastic books from the exceptional creative team here, who are so passionate about making quality books for children of all abilities."

The changes will take place this autumn.