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Joe Zigmond, editorial director of John Murray, has been promoted to associate publisher, John Murray and Basic Books.
Zigmond will continue to build his list of narrative non-fiction, focused on history, politics and current affairs, acquiring 10 books a year.
Books previously acquired by Zigmond include The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland, which was shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford, the Waterstones Book of the Year, and the Rathbones Folio prize; Kojo Koram’s Uncommon Wealth: Britain and the Aftermath of Empire, which was shortlisted for The Orwell Prize and the Wolfson History Prize, The Ottomans by Marc David Baer, published on the Basic Books list, and The Master: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer by Christopher Clarey, which was longlisted for the William Hill.
He recently acquired Ben Riley-Smith’s How Tyrants Fall by Marcel Dirsus. Zigmond will continue reporting to Jocasta Hamilton, who was promoted to executive publisher of John Murray, Two Roads and Baskerville at the beginning of 2022.
Zigmond joined John Murray as senior commissioning editor in 2017 and was previously at HarperCollins. He said: “Building a list of formidable serious non-fiction at John Murray has been a collective effort and a tremendous pleasure. Our books at John Murray and Basic boast some of the finest writers and smartest ideas — so it’s a privilege to see them flourish over time. I look forward to even greater successes alongside our brilliant team, Jocasta, Nick and Sarah.”
Hamilton commented: “Joe has had a spectacular year with the success of The Escape Artist exemplifying his ability to work closely with an author and colleagues across the company to create a bestseller. Knowledgeable, curious and entrepreneurial, Joe’s list reflects his determination to find the most dynamic, interesting thinkers and writers who examine and illuminate the past, present and future from fresh perspectives. We’re excited to see his list continue to develop over the coming years.”