Wright appointed publishing director for Penguin Life and Penguin Business

Pippa Wright is joining Penguin General as publishing director for Penguin Life and Penguin Business, replacing Martina O’Sullivan who left the business earlier this year.

Wright currently leads the Orion Spring list, where she has worked since 2019. Under her stewardship, Wright has led the list to its highest-ever annual profit, publishing titles such as How To Do The Work by Nicole LePera, and Hack Your Hormones by Davinia Taylor.

Before Orion, Wright was rights director at Cornerstone. She is also a trained yoga teacher and has published four novels with Pan Macmillan. She will join Penguin General in spring 2024.

Preena Gadher, managing director of Penguin General, praised Wright’s “outstanding depth of knowledge” as well as her “superb track record and an infectious passion for both the Penguin Life and Penguin Business areas of the market”. She added: “Her entrepreneurial flair in seeking out and launching new talent, as well as her creativity in driving established authors is especially impressive, which, combined with her ‘squiggly career’ gives her a unique point of difference. I know that Penguin Life and Penguin Business will be in excellent hands with Pippa at the helm, as we turbo charge our publishing in these areas.”

Wright added: “While it is a wrench to leave my wonderful authors and colleagues at Orion, where I have been given so many opportunities, it was impossible to resist the invitation to lead Penguin Life and Penguin Business. My interest in personal development books was first sparked at Penguin, and returning there to work on these iconic lists, with their exceptional authors, feels like coming full circle. I can’t wait to get started with Preena and the great team that’s already in place.”

Anna Valentine, managing director of The Orion Publishing Group, said Wright “leaves Orion Spring in a great place as one of the most dynamic and exciting health and wellbeing imprints in the industry, and my best wishes go with her to this new role at Penguin General”.

Daniel Crewe, publishing director for Viking Non-Fiction, is acting as interim publishing director, Penguin Business and Penguin Life.