Promotions and editorial reorganisation at Octopus

Octopus m.d. Anna Bond (pictured) has made a series of promotions to the board, amid a reorganisation of the publishing group's editorial leadership team.

The promotions see Caroline Brown made group publicity and marketing director and join the board, along with Kevin Hawkins, UK sales director, and Ros Webber, director of rights and North American sales. They join existing board members group publisher Denise Bates, finance director Jonathan Paterson, production director Helen Everson and Summersdale m.d. Alastair Williams.

Meanwhile, Bates has reorganised her publishing team and will have eight publishing divisions, each led by a publisher or editorial director.

Octopus’ three newest divisions, Claudia Connal’s Endeavour, Jake Lingwood’s Monoray and Romilly Morgan’s newly-launched Brazen, will continue to focus on growing Octopus’ narrative list.

Kyle Books will continue to be led by publisher Joanna Copestick, supported by Judith Hannam, who is promoted to publishing director, and Louise McKeever, senior commissioning editor. It will focus primarily on illustrated publishing, from food, drink and interiors, to gardening, health, sustainability and craft.

Alison Starling is promoted to publisher of Mitchell Beazley, Conran Octopus and Ilex. Editorial director Joe Cottington will continue to work with Starling on lifestyle titles and his illustrated and narrative music list will move to publish under Mitchell Beazley. Richard Collins and Ellie Corbett are to continue to acquire practical photography and art/design titles respectively for Ilex.

Stephanie Jackson is promoted to publisher for Aster, Gaia and Godsfield. Aster and Gaia will be relaunched later this year, with Aster expanding to include a wider range of food, drink, lifestyle and wellness brands and Gaia focusing on nature publishing. Consultant publisher Kate Adams and commissioning editors Natalie Bradley and Leanne Bryan continue to work with Jackson, acquiring for Aster, Gaia and Godsfield.

Trevor Davies is promoted to publisher for Cassell, which will continue to publish a range of narrative and illustrated titles including sport, entertainment, popular culture, puzzles and pets.

Eleanor Maxfield is promoted to publishing director for Hamlyn. Hamlyn, founded by Paul Hamlyn in 1951 with his aim to “create fine books with a common touch”, will be relaunched later this year with a focus on “highly commercial cookery and lifestyle titles for the widest possible audience”.

There will be no change to the structure of the existing divisions of Philip’s, Pyramid, Summersdale and Short Books.

Bond commented: “Denise’s realigning of our imprints under defined publisher ownership will foster clearer imprint identities and enable ambitious growth targets. We look forward to working with authors, agents and our list of consumer brands to reach the widest possible readership for our books, and in doing so have a positive impact on consumers’ wellbeing in all aspects of their lives.”