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Blackburn leaves S&S for Bloomsbury

23.11.11 | Charlotte Williams

Bloomsbury has appointed Emma Blackburn, Simon & Schuster's editorial director of picture books, to the newly created role of editorial director of illustrated publishing.

Blackburn, who worked on books including the Aliens in Underpants series and Barry the Fish with Fingers at S&S, will take up the role on 25th January, following on from the recent appointments of Rebecca McNally as publishing director and international editor-in-chief for children's books, and Emma Hopkin as m.d. of children's books. Her remit is to build "a focused, commercial and prize-friendly picture book list with global reach", and she will report to McNally.

Blackburn said: "I am delighted to be joining Bloomsbury Children's Books at such an exciting time, and I am looking forward to working with the team there, and with authors and illustrators old and new, to create wonderful books for children to enjoy and treasure."

Hopkin added: "This role is central to our growth plans and we are thrilled to have Emma to lead our illustrated trade publishing list. Her track record is one of great commercial success."

McNally said the picture book list will "really benefit from having someone specialist to develop it," praising Blackburn's "unrivalled commercial track record" and her "energy, creativity and ideas", as well as her relationships within the picture book business.

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