Robin Baird-Smith to leave Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury Continuum’s long-serving editorial director Robin Baird-Smith is leaving at the end of February after 24 years. Continuum was acquired by Bloomsbury 13 years ago. 

Bloomsbury said Baird-Smith “is far from retiring” and is in the middle of writing a book on Antisemitism. Publisher Tomasz Hoskins will step up to succeed him.

Nigel Newton, Bloomsbury’s chief executive officer, described Baird-Smith as “one of the great publishers of his generation”. Newton added: “His list of authors positively scintillates with stardust. His approach to publishing has propelled his authors to even greater success than they might dared to have hoped due to Robin’s close attention to the publicity and positioning of their books enabled by his strong relationship with his colleagues. Perhaps no recognition is greater than the Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship given to Robin by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony at Lambeth Palace in June. Robin cares deeply for the future of Bloomsbury Continuum. We are fortunate to have such a great publisher as Tomasz Hoskins to take up the mantle.” 

The Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship is named after Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070 to 1089, and was presented to Baird Smith in recognition of a half-a-century’s work in religious books. He published the works of archbishops, bishops, popes, cardinals, the chief rabbi, as well as many Anglican and Roman Catholic clergy including the great Dominican friar Timothy Radcliffe. 

Baird-Smith started in publishing in 1968 and previously held positions at Collins, Constable and Duckworth.