The Bookseller.com

1st December 2008

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Forbes-Watson role could last 'months'

10.04.08 Benedicte Page

Former Penguin c.e.o. Anthony Forbes-Watson could head up Pan Macmillan for "months", following the surprise departure of David North this week.

Speaking from Canada, where he was on a consultancy project for Simon & Schuster, Forbes-Watson told The Bookseller that he expected his interim role to last "a matter of months, but quite a few months". He added: "Macmillan is one of the few consumer publishing houses I've never had anything to do with, so it's interesting."

North leaves on Friday (11th April) after eight years with the company. Macmillan said he had been "restless for a while and he felt it was time for a change". He plans to take some time out, celebrate his wedding anniversary and play golf, the publisher added.

A well-placed source suggested North's departure had come about because Macmillan c.e.o. Annette Thomas wished to take the company in a fresh direction: "There has been no falling out. She and David get on well on a personal level, but she has a different vision for the company. Annette restructured Macmillan Education right after she came in, ousting Chris Paterson [the long-standing chairman of Macmillan Education]. She wants to make some changes, and she and David decided he wasn't the man to do it. He's part of the Richard Charkin era."

Macmillan currently has three senior posts waiting to be filled: as well as a permanent m.d., Andrew Kidd's replacement as Picador publisher has yet to be announced, and the rights manager post is also vacant following the departure of Chantal Noel to Penguin.

Benedicte Page Pan Macmillan Macmillan Home Annette Thomas job David North Anthony Forbes-Watson