The Bookseller.com

13th October 2008

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Barnsley plans international expansion

09.06.08 Alison Flood

Victoria Barnsley will look to expand HC's international presence following her promotion last week to c.e.o. and publisher of HarperCollins' UK and international divisions.

"I will be looking at new markets where we might open offices, to see if there are areas where we should be [that we're not]," said Barnsley. "I feel that at its core this new role is all about growth."

Her new position, which sees her taking on responsibility for HC's Australia and New Zealand operations along with the UK and India, follows the surprise announcement last week that HC Worldwide c.e.o. and president Jane Friedman was leaving the company.

Barnsley said that she felt ANZ was now "back in the right place". "Traditionally we own the rights so it is much more important for us to have a direct relationship. This gives us the opportunity to have a much closer relationship."

She is planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand shortly, and will visit India by the end of the year. China will report into Brian Murray, who replaces Friedman at the top of HC. "He has been very involved in its development," said Barnsley.

She described the news of Friedman's departure as "a real surprise - a real shock," adding: "Jane has been a great presence for ten years; she was a publisher's publisher."

She said that Murray - who will visit the UK tomorrow (10th June) - had a "different emphasis and style" to his predecessor. "Digital will be getting even more accelerated," she said. "I know Brian very well, and I'm really looking forward to working with him closely."

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