Promotions for Ferguson and Cooper at Harlequin

Harlequin UK has reshuffled its management team, making two promotions and hiring one new person.

Former Harlequin managing director Mandy Ferguson has been appointed in the newly-created role as vice president of Europe and India, reporting to Steve Miles, the c.o.o of overseas. Her promotion follows the “successful development” of the UK business and its Mills & Boon, Mira and Carina imprints over the last few years.

Tim Cooper, formerly the UK commercial director, has been appointed as managing director of Harlequin UK and Jocasta Kelsey, formerly global head of marketing at digital entertainment company We R Interactive, has been hired as commercial director to drive continued brand and digital expansion in the UK. Kelsey has recently consulted for Harlequin on the start-up of the digital first imprint, Carina UK.

Cooper said: “The last few years have seen a major change in our UK business and increasing focus on and expanding our local acquisition and digital channels, emerging technologies and our consumers. Our Mills & Boon and Mira imprints were ahead of the curve in e-publishing which we are now developing even further with new ways of storytelling and pure play digital entertainment properties.”

He added: “It is an exciting time for the business as we see many of these products come to fruition in 2014. I am proud to lead such a pioneering and successful division of Harlequin, and a truly great team.”