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United Independent Distributors appoints Boughton chief operating officer
Andrew Boughton has been appointed chief operating officer of United Independent Distributors (UID), and its group companies, Eurospan, Marston Book Services and Orca Book Services, effective 31st March 2023.
Boughton succeeds UID’s former chief operating officer Mark Chaloner, who has left the company to pursue other career opportunities.
Joe Matthews, c.e.o. of Independent Publishers Group (IPG), said: “Since our acquisition of UID, Andrew has stepped to the forefront, working closely with publishers and overseeing client and customer services.
“He has a huge breadth of experience and is extremely knowledgeable, having led Eurospan’s operations team for several years. Andrew is a natural fit for the role, and we are excited to see him in this new position.”
Boughton has worked in UID’s academic and professional marketing division, Eurospan, for two decades and has held several leadership positions in the areas of marketing strategy and operations management, including as c.o.o. of Eurospan. He said: “I am excited to be given the opportunity to lead and transform the UID businesses into market leaders.”
In a recent letter to publishers, UID also announced the hire of a new warehouse manager at its Biggleswade facility, as well as several strategic initiatives, including software system upgrades and the implementation of a new warehouse management system.
“We are determined to restore quality service and are investing hugely,” said Matthews. “We must execute this year. You can be sure it is the singular goal of IPG globally for 2023.”
Orca, which provides services to UK and overseas general, academic and specialist publishers, was owned by Marston Book Services before the parent firm was initially acquired by US-based United Independent Distributors (UID) in 2019. In July 2021, The Bookseller learned that Orca’s 66,000 sq ft distribution centre in Poole, Dorset, was to close towards the end of 2021 with the service moving to Biggleswade in Bedfordshire.
UID was bought by IPG in October 2021, with the new owner inheriting the issues brought about by the warehouse move, which although publishers were told would have “little impact”, led to undistributed stock and late or incomplete payments that The Bookseller understands persist. In September 2022, IPG told The Bookseller it was committed to the UK but said its "strategic turnaround plan" for Orca had been hit by delays and "unforeseen challenges".
