Williams made Emerald Publishing c.e.o.

Vicky Williams has been appointed c.e.o. of Emerald Publishing, as current chief executive Richard Bevan becomes executive chairman of the group.

Bevan will be taking over as chairman from the group's founder, Dr Keith Howard, who has stepped down as chairman after 50 years, but will remain on the Emerald Group Board.

Formerly group HR director, Williams has been with Emerald for 18 years. "Her range and level of experience, spanning editorial, new product and digital development, business intelligence, HR and global marketing communications, give her unique insight into the challenges and opportunities facing academic publishing, and makes her ideally placed to take Emerald forward to meet them", said a spokesperson for the publisher.

Williams, a Cambridge graduate with an MA in International Business from Leeds Beckett, is also a keen advocate for gender diversity in academic publishing. She launched Emerald’s workplace gender diversity programme, Stride, and has appeared as a panellist speaking on the issue at international academic conferences and events.

Emerald Group incorporates Emerald Publishing, GoodPractice, Towards Maturity and Research Media.