Ridley promoted in string of changes for Penguin General comms team

Penguin General has announced a series of changes and promotions to its communications team as a result of the growth of the division, changes in the market and the need to cover parental leave. 

Anna Ridley, currently communications director, has been promoted to associate publisher in recognition of her wider contribution to the division’s publishing strategy. Meanwhile, Amelia Fairney, also communications director, will move to a three day a week role (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) in order to accommodate her MA studies in new media.  

Ridley will take on additional management responsibilities from Fairney as well as heading the communications team. She will also work closely with Penguin General’s publishers to build the strategy for their imprints and areas of publishing, with a particular focus on fiction and memoir, and continue to work with key authors including Ali Smith, Bernardine Evaristo, Deborah Levy and Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. 

Rose Poole, head of campaigns, will be running the marketing team with Fairney on her return from maternity leave on 25th February. Meanwhile, Annie Moore, senior campaigns manager, sees her temporary contract with Penguin General extended to the end of 2022. 

Julia Murday is promoted to associate publisher for Penguin Life and Penguin Business, while Poppy North is promoted to associate communications director, taking on additional management responsibilities on the team.  Jane Gentle is also promoted to head of campaigns.   

Penguin General said it was “confident” these changes to the senior team will “future-proof” its communications strategy going forward. 

As North and Murday will both be taking parental leave from the end of February, Chloe Davies, currently senior campaigns manager, will act as head of campaigns and Olivia Mead, currently publicity manager, will act as senior campaigns manager.  

Penguin said it is in the process of recruiting a campaigns manager and campaigns officer on temporary contracts to cover publicity campaigns during the period of North and Murday’s maternity leave. 

Beyond the senior team, Corinna Bolino, Ellie Hudson and Alexia Thomaidis and Louise Farrell at PRH Ireland will all be promoted to campaigns managers in recognition of their “outstanding performance”.  

PRH said: “We’d like to congratulate our team members on their promotions, and we look forward to another creative and productive year for Penguin General Communications.”