Sanah Ahmed made commissioning editor at Orion Fiction amid a number of promotions

Sanah Ahmed has been promoted to commissioning editor at Orion Fiction amid a raft of promotions within the editorial team, designed to "strengthen the publisher’s commissioning output" as it looks to its "next stage of growth".

Ahmed joined the team in 2021 and has worked with some of the list’s biggest brand authors, including Veronica Henry, Lorraine Kelly, M J Arlidge and Sophie Gravia. Recently, Ahmed has worked on Playmaker by Deanna Faison, Casket Case by Lauren Evans and Couples Retreat by Lorraine Brown. In her new role, she will continue to acquire new talent in the book club, romance and cosy fantasy space.

Meanwhile, in Gollancz, Brendan Durkin has been promoted to commissioning editor, having previously led the publishing of the literary estates of Sir Terry Pratchett and Frank Herbert, and worked closely on some of the imprint’s leading brand authors including Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie and Andrzej Sapkowski. Durkin has also spearheaded the launch of Gollancz’s direct-to-consumer publishing programme, "The Gollancz Emporium," producing special editions. In 2025, Durkin will publish titles including Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor and Some Body Like Me by L D Lapinski.

In Seven Dials, George Brooker has been promoted to senior commissioning editor. Since joining the company in 2022, Brooker has worked across two commercial non-fiction imprints, Seven Dials and Trapeze. After acquiring Sarah Beeny’s memoir The Simple Life, as well as supporting on key brand authors Dick and Angel Strawbridge, his list was supercharged this year with the publication of Emily English’s So Good. Brooker’s remit will continue to focus on food and drink, alongside memoir, gift and LGBTQ+ voices, and he will commission a select number of titles for Trapeze.

Anna Valentine, managing director of Orion, said: "These promotions recognise the breadth of talent we have across our editorial teams at Orion. Brendan, George and Sanah have all made enormous contributions in their respective areas, and are some of the most exciting editorial talent in the industry."