PRH consults on jobs as it centralises rights operation

Penguin Random House is understood to be exploring the centralisation of its rights operation, with a small number of redundancies proposed. This follows the announcement earlier this month that Chantal Noel, previously Penguin rights director, has been appointed group rights director for the whole company.

Historically on the Penguin side of the business rights have operated on a centralised basis for some time; but divisions on what has been the Random House side – Transworld, Ebury, Cornerstone and Vintage – have all had their own individual rights teams. PRH is now understood to be exploring merging them into a centralised operation for the whole company, led by Noel and based in the Vauxhall Bridge Road office, in a significant shift for the divisions involved.

A small number of roles are understood to be in consultation for redundancy.

Several PRH employees told The Bookseller there has been upset and frustration among staff about the proposed changes even though they have been expected in some form since the merger. A number of rights staffers have worked under the present structure for many years. 

It's believed that under Noel the rights team will work across the PRH portfolio, with each publishing house having their own specialist embedded within that division but also working more broadly as part of the new central, adults rights team; the aim being to reduce fragmentation and promote an adaptable approach, creating a rights agency model within the company. Within the strategic priorities of the business, acquisition and exploitation of rights are understood to be a key focus for growth.

The consultation was announced on October 23rd and it is expected to conclude in around three weeks’ time. Detailed meetings with members of staff are currently underway and no changes have as yet been made, The Bookseller understands.

In a move unrelated to the consultation, Ebury rights agent Rae Shirvington is leaving at the end of the year.

The merger between Penguin and Random House took place in 2013.

Penguin Random House did not offer comment.