EXCLUSIVE: YMU has discovered its new literary chief and promoted an exec for its new UK boss.
Briony Gowlett has been named International 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 all the time been my biggest pleasure, and now I’ve the chance to do this from the very begin of the method,” stated Gowlett. “YMU’s fame is formidable, and to work with gifted colleagues like Anna, Millie, and Elise to additional the company’s success is a singular and thrilling alternative.”
Gowlett will work carefully with YMU’s worldwide roster ofauthors authors, digital creators and leisure and sport strars to assist them form, develop and launch e-book tasks. She may even work with YMU’s international 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 printed 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 Occasions bestseller listing with their debut e-book ‘Clanlands’.
Dixon, in the meantime, joined YMU in November 2021 and has gone on to signify books from the likes of Rob Rinder and Julia Bradbury. She’s going to work alongside Gowlett as they give the impression of being 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 staff,” stated Dixon. “I’m wanting ahead to persevering with to ship high quality tasks with writers from everywhere in the leisure business, whereas supporting our purchasers 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 steer YMU’s literary division – her success, over the previous 20 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 purchasers have all the time understood the significance and worth of books and have loved large successes over the previous few years. We stay 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 12 months, and her good editorial instincts, industrial acumen and strategic considering has contributed massively to our purchasers’ literary success.
“Lastly, I want to thank Amanda Harris for her wonderful contribution to YMU these previous few years and to want her each success for the long run.”