Tim Whiting leaves Bonnier to set up coaching company prompting consolidation of imprints

Tim Whiting, managing director of Black & White Publishing Group at Bonnier Books UK (BBUK), will leave the publisher this autumn to set up an executive coaching business with a focus on publishing, media and the arts, leading to a consolidation of the adult imprints under Sarah Benton. 

Under his leadership, Black & White Group has doubled its revenues and has topped the bestseller lists in both the UK and Ireland with Wild Hope by Donna Ashworth and The Hike Life by Roz Purcell respectively, BBUK said. The division has also achieved prize successes this year with Reach for the Stars by Michael Cragg, winning the Penderyn Music Book Prize and Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Biography. 

The publisher said: “As a result of Tim’s decision, the company has decided to consolidate its adult imprints into a single adult trade division, which will be led by Sarah Benton, currently m.d. at BBUK’s Zaffre Publishing Group.” 

Whiting said: “Now more than ever, organisations and individuals need expert support, guidance and insight and I am hugely excited about drawing on my experience of building outstanding teams to help provide that.  

“I am so proud of all the first-class team has achieved at Black & White, and know our imprints are well set up for the future under Sarah’s strong leadership. My deepest gratitude goes to Perminder Mann, chief executive at BBUK, one of our industry’s great changemakers, and to my brilliant colleagues.” 

Mann said: “It is with a heavy heart we will bid farewell to Tim this autumn, following his decision to embrace a career shift. While this is undoubtedly sad news for us, I am equally excited and happy for Tim as he embarks on this new chapter. 

“In less than two years, Tim has successfully established Black & White as a prominent division of BBUK. The business has experienced remarkable growth, thanks to a hugely talented team and I know Tim will be very much missed. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for his invaluable contributions. 

“With this change, we have been given the opportunity to review our business structure. Considering the current market conditions we are facing, the logical next step for us is to integrate the two adult divisions. I am therefore delighted to announce that Sarah Benton has agreed to lead the newly formed adult trade division as managing director for adult trade. 

“Sarah joined us last year, and in a very short space of time, has proven herself to be an inspirational and strategic leader, and is well-positioned to guide the division towards continued success and growth. Sarah and Tim will collaborate over the summer to ensure a seamless transition.”