Ribbons swaps S&S for Puffin as Griffiths and Townsend appointed publishers

Puffin has made a series of new hires and promotions to its acquiring non-fiction and six-plus fiction editorial team. 

Lowri Ribbons has been appointed to the role of commissioning editor, joining on 3rd October from Simon & Schuster, where she worked across the list as part of the publishing teams for brands and titles including Cassandra Clare, Dork Diaries and Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, and with authors including Steven Butler, Jenny Valentine and Sophy Henn. Ribbons will be acquiring across the Puffin list, with a special focus on the commercial and mass market.

Meg Osborne has also been appointed as editor of non-fiction. She joined from What on Earth Publishing where she had been editing and project managing titles on the growing Britannica Books imprint. Osborne has joined commissioning editors Phoebe Jascourt and Tom Rawlinson in acquiring for Puffin’s growing non-fiction list and will also work across existing brands and authors including BBC Earth.

In-house, Jane Griffiths has been promoted to publisher for new publishing development. In addition to her work leading Puffin’s Roald Dahl publishing, alongside editing and publishing recent acquisitions including Abi Elphinstone’s Peter Pan-inspired Finding Neverland and new young fiction series Secret Beast Club, she will also have oversight of Puffin’s acquisitions and new publishing strategy.

Anthea Townsend is also promoted to publisher for brands and growth, working with the team to drive further growth across Puffin’s list. She will also continue to acquire fiction titles for all age groups.

Both Griffiths and Townsend’s new roles will report to and offer additional support to Ruth Knowles, whose title has changed to publishing director, Puffin non-fiction, six-plus fiction and licensing, to better reflect the scope and seniority of her role within Puffin and her leadership of the team.

She in turn reports to Amanda Punter, who continues to lead Puffin’s entire publishing programme across pre-school, non-fiction, fiction and licensing.

Punter said: “With these new appointments and promotions I’m thrilled that we are bolstering our acquisitions strength in the all-important area of six-plus fiction and our growing non-fiction list, as well as recognising key talent within the team. We know that Lowri, Meg, Jane and Anthea will help Puffin continue to bring the magic of stories to even more readers.”

Knowles commented: “I feel incredibly lucky to work with such a talented and passionate group of editors, with such a range of tastes and interests. With Lowri and Meg now a part of the team, and Anthea and Jane in their new roles, we’re in an even better position to find and publish the very best authors and illustrators, and to achieve our mission of making books for every child, everywhere.”