Bluebird triumphs in four-way auction for Kingori's 'paradigm shifting' book

Bluebird has swooped for The Otherhood, an "agenda-setting and paradigm shifting" book from chief business officer of Condé Nast Britain Vanessa Kingori, in a "competitive" four-way auction.

Publisher Carole Tonkinson and editorial director Mireille Harper acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Natalie Jerome, formerly at Curtis Brown. The book will be taken forward by c.e.o. Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown and will be published in 2024.

"Vanessa is a truly remarkable business leader and her practical ideas and inspirational stories in this book will resonate far and wide," said Geller. "You will be hearing a lot more about The Otherhood in the weeks to come."

The book’s title refers to "anyone placed outside mainstream institutions, culture or norms – those who have been ’othered’ by race, religion, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation and more".

Kingori’s book shows how difference "makes a business and the world better". With "practical" tips and guidance for employers and employees, and observations on the careers of Vogue editor Edward Enninful, Dame Julia Gillard, the first female prime minister of Australia, and Sheryl Sandberg, former chief operating officer of Facebook, The Otherhood "takes us beyond momentary action and the optics of altruism and leans into creating true, sustained and seismic change the world needs".

Kingori is British Vogue’s first female business lead and Condé Nast’s first Black publisher.

She commented: "I am eager to help accelerate the pace of change to match the new world. It’s time we dismantled the toxic beliefs and barriers that hinder progress to help build a more equitable and productive society."

Harper said: "Being at the helm of transforming the business and fashion world from static and conforming, to revolutionary, progressive and ever-evolving, we are immensely privileged at Bluebird to be working with Vanessa Kingori on making this book a disruptor in the market and encouraging readers to adapt their mindsets and learn why thinking like an ‘outsider’ is key to how we create and connect."