The Bookseller.com

7th September 2008

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HarperCollins denies relocation plan

03.07.08 Graeme Neill

HarperCollins UK chief Victoria Barnsley has moved quickly to quell speculation that it is planning a move into parent company News Corporation’s new offices in London. Following a report in the Guardian, which suggested that the publisher could be moving to the offices—either near Cannon Street in central London or at its Wapping complex in east London—Barnsley emailed staff denying that any such decision had been made.

"So while the idea of moving in with our News Corp media partners has many attractions, and I too am captivated by what the estate agents describe as 'sun-dappled facades, a sheltered public realm formed by timber structures on an impressive maritime scale and the ever-present riverscape of the biggest open area on the City waterfront', there are many issues to think about here, not the least that the current lease for our premises here at Hammersmith does not expire until 2015," she wrote.

"The old maxim holds firm here just not to believe everything you read in the press - but if and when we do make radical decisions which will affect us all, we will obviously communicate with you as soon as we can."

A spokesperson for HarperCollins added: "We are always looking at ways to work more closely with parent company News Corp but at present we are very happy in our Hammersmith premises where our lease doesn't run out until 2015."

HarperCollins Victoria Barnsley News Corp Graeme Neill