Thames & Hudson c.e.o Rolf Grisebach to leave in April

Rolf Grisebach will leave his role as c.e.o. of Thames & Hudson in mid-April after six years at the publisher. 

T&H executive chairman Neil Palfreyman will be working closely with Grisebach over the next few months to ensure continuity in the leadership of the company. The company has as yet no replacement lined up for the c.e.o. role.

Thames & Hudson said that during Grisebach’s tenure there have been several key hires into senior positions, an accelerated growth in the US-focused college textbook programme and a rapid expansion of T&H Australia’s local publishing. 

Grisebach said: “I’m glad that, in collaboration with my management team, I have had the opportunity to consolidate Thames & Hudson Ltd’s global reach and widen its portfolio. To lead one of the world’s foremost illustrated publishers has been a truly enriching experience and I’m confident that my contribution leaves Thames & Hudson well placed to further strengthen its position.”

Paying tribute to Grisebach, T&H chairman Thomas Neurath said: “We are sorry Rolf has decided to leave us. The last five years have seen T&H successfully develop its business aims, building on the company’s long-held traditions of international thinking and collaborative co- operation with like-minded global institutions.” 

Palfreyman added: “Rolf has been an important figure in strengthening T&H’s reach most notably in the Far East with the new company Thames & Hudson Asia. In his time T&H has also made new distribution alliances with carefully selected publishers worldwide, and closer to home exclusive co- publishing partnerships with two of the most prestigious and best loved British cultural institutions, the V&A and The British Museum.”

Grisebach has not taken a role elsewhere, T&H confirmed.