EXCLUSIVE: YMU has discovered its new literary chief and promoted an exec for its new UK boss.
Briony Gowlett has been named World Managing Director, Literary, whereas Anna Dixon is upped to UK Managing Director.
Gowlett comes from a background in publishing, which incorporates overseeing the not too long ago launch of Octopus Publishing’s non-fiction imprint Radar.
She replaces Amanda Harris, who’s exiting to launch her personal enterprise in 2025, as Deadline revealed in July.
“I’m thrilled to affix YMU and channel my 18 years of publishing expertise into a brand new problem. Serving to folks uncover and share distinctive tales has at all times been my best pleasure, and now I’ve the chance to try this from the very begin of the method,” mentioned Gowlett. “YMU’s repute is formidable, and to work with gifted colleagues like Anna, Millie, and Elise to additional the company’s success is a novel and thrilling alternative.”
Gowlett will work intently with YMU’s worldwide roster ofauthors authors, digital creators and leisure and sport strars to assist them form, develop and launch ebook initiatives. She will even work with YMU’s world groups to develop the company’s expertise roster.
Her profession started in 2006 within the contracts division at Penguin Books earlier than she took roles at Century, Random Home and later at Simon & Schuster, Hodder & Stoughton and the Octopus.
She has revealed bestsellers from the likes of James Middleton, Denise Welch, Zoe and Joe Sugg, Robson Inexperienced, Adam Hills, Emma Gannon and actors Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, who concurrently reached No.1 on the New York Instances bestseller listing with their debut ebook ‘Clanlands’.
Dixon, in the meantime, joined YMU in November 2021 and has gone on to characterize books from the likes of Rob Rinder and Julia Bradbury. She’s going to work alongside Gowlett as they appear to signal new expertise.
“I’m excited to take this step up right into a management function alongside Briony, who’s a implausible addition to our group,” mentioned Dixon. “I’m trying ahead to persevering with to ship high quality initiatives with writers from all around the leisure trade, whereas supporting our shoppers and publishing companions internationally in reaching bestselling success”.
Mary Bekhait, CEO of YMU added: “‘I’m actually thrilled to welcome somebody of Briony’s calibre and expertise to guide YMU’s literary division – her success, over the previous twenty years, working with a number of the greatest non-fiction authors within the UK and main an imprint of best-sellers speaks for itself. Our shoppers have at all times understood the significance and worth of books and have loved big successes over the previous few years. We sit up for many extra sooner or later with Briony on the helm.
“I’m equally enthusiastic about Anna Dixon’s a lot deserved promotion to U.Ok. Managing Director – she has been, rightly, named a Bookseller rising star this yr, and her sensible editorial instincts, industrial acumen and strategic pondering has contributed massively to our shoppers’ literary success.
“Lastly, I wish to thank Amanda Harris for her wonderful contribution to YMU these previous few years and to want her each success for the longer term.”
