Burke made director at Blake Friedmann as Ellis-Martin steps up

Kate Burke is stepping up to become a director on the executive board for literary agency Blake Friedmann, among a number of promotions and appointments. 

Burke (pictured) will work closely with Julian Friedmann, chairman, and Isobel Dixon, m.d. and head of books, in the management of the agency, along with head of finance Daisy Way and vice-head of books Juliet Pickering, who both joined the executive board last year. 

Burke joined Blake Friedmann in 2019 from Northbank Talent Management after working as an editor for 10 years at Headline, HarperCollins and Penguin Random House. She represents a list of crime, thriller, historical and commercial women’s fiction, including writers Will Dean, Dani Atkins and Allie Reynolds.

Friedmann and Dixon said: "We’re delighted to be able to recognise Kate’s sterling contribution to the agency, not just through the work of her authors, but also in her sharing of expertise and mentoring support for colleagues. We look forward to developing the company’s future together."
 
Sian Ellis-Martin has also been promoted to associate agent, and will continue to support Burke’s authors and some of the authors on Isobel Dixon’s list, but will be taking on clients for direct representation too. 
 
Earlier this year the agency appointed Tabitha Topping as book department assistant, after she had worked with Blake Friedmann part-time since her stint as the agency's Carole Blake Open Doors candidate, a programme aimed at encouraging candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds to enter the publishing industry, in 2020. Antonia Coker, who took part in the Carole Blake Open Doors project earlier this year, is also now working with the agency part-time as an office assistant. 

Friedmann and Dixon said: "We’re exceptionally proud of this talented team, who have done such brilliant work for the agency’s clients over the most challenging time during the pandemic. None of this would be possible without our wonderful clients, and we look forward to sharing more of their work with the world, as we take the agency forward with our excellent colleagues into 2022 and beyond."