Whelan steps up to publisher at Yellow Kite

Lauren Whelan has been appointed as publisher of Yellow Kite meaning she will be publisher for both Yellow Kite and Catalyst, the imprint she founded in May this year.

Effective from 1st January 2024, Whelan will have a dual reporting line to Oli Malcolm, m.d. of Hodder & Stoughton (H&S), and Kirty Topiwala, executive non-fiction publisher, and she will join the H&S publishing board. Yellow Kite’s acquiring editors, Nicky Ross and Carolyn Thorne, will report to Whelan.

The appointment follows outgoing publisher Liz Gough’s move to DK to take on the newly created role of m.d. of DK Adult.

Whelan said: “When I first joined publishing and came across Yellow Kite, as an imprint that publishes ‘books to help you live a good life’, it sounded as attractive and purposeful in its mission as it does now – it is in fact the very reason I have been able to find such a fulfilling career and fallen in love with this job.

“Our authors have added infinite value to millions of readers’ lives, so to be leading Yellow Kite’s next chapter, in its 10th birthday year, alongside our new imprint Catalyst, is an absolute privilege.”

She paid tribute to predecessor, Gough, who “has created a trailblazing list with Yellow Kite and led the team to enormous success.” Whelan added: “I hope I can match her incredible energy and vision in continuing to fly the flag high, grow our devoted community, stay true to our identity and attract standout authors in the lifestyle and wellbeing space.”

Malcolm said: “Lauren is a genuine entrepreneur, with an uncanny ability to repeatedly predict consumer sentiment in the lifestyle and wellbeing space. I am pleased that she will be leading the Yellow Kite team and will build upon what is a much-loved imprint both internally and with readers.”

During her time at Yellow Kite, rising from assistant editor to associate publisher, Whelan acquired and published many of the imprint’s bestselling titles of the last decade, including Steven Bartlett’s Happy Sexy Millionaire, All On The Board, along with the Twochubbycubs and Siobhan Wightman’s Slimming Eats series.

Since launching Catalyst, Whelan has acquired titles from authors including Africa Brooke (The Third Perspective), Amber Lyon (You are a Magnet) and Sunday Times bestselling Johannes Radebe (Jojo: Finally Home).

The news follows the rebranding of H&S featuring a hand-drawn stoat which references the correct pronunciation of the company name.