The Bookseller.com

20th November 2008

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Paterson out as Drinkall leads Macmillan Education

14.01.08 Joel Rickett

Macmillan's chief operating officer Julian Drinkall is to run the group's global education publishing businesses in the newly-created role of chief executive. The move, following a review by new Macmillan Group c.e.o. Annette Thomas, means that Macmillan Education chairman Christopher Paterson will be leaving the company after 37 years.

A statement said that Macmillan Education will be given a "unified management structure and a coordinated strategy for the company as whole, appropriate to the future challenges for the business in an increasingly global and digital environment." Drinkall will set up and chair a new Macmillan Education International board with senior executives of all the existing education companies worldwide. Richard Nathan, Macmillan Group strategy director, will help develop a "new programme for the aggressive expansion of our educational publishing around the world."

Thomas said: “Julian is energetic, entrepreneurial and determined and he has, in the central c.o.o. position, rapidly developed a deep understanding of the group’s businesses and a strong network of colleagues. He is also fun, curious, persistent and passionate about the future potential of Macmillan Education. His experience in business development, especially in new media, at the BBC and IPC, his involvement in strategic and organizational change and his background in international development and business also make him the right person to lead Macmillan Education through its next phase of modernization and expansion.”

Drinkall added: “With the first book ever published by Macmillan being The Philosophy of Training by A. Craig in 1843, educational publishing has been at the heart of Macmillan since its foundation. I am thrilled to have been offered this fantastic opportunity to lead Macmillan Education and I look forward to the challenge of promoting vigorous and healthy new growth from such strong roots.”

Thomas also paid tribute to Paterson, who will depart at the end of January: “Christopher has been a key member of our executive team for many years, providing strong guidance and leadership and spearheading Macmillan’s impressive growth in international publishing particularly in China and Southern Africa. We will all miss him enormously and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Joel Rickett