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Hodder's Sue Fletcher to retire

01.01.70 | Katie Allen

Hodder & Stoughton's Sue Fletcher will be retiring from publishing at the end of this year, following a career in the industry of more than 40 years.

Fletcher currently has publishes a list of authors including Jean Auel, John Connolly, Tana French and Rosamunde Pilcher.

She was one of the founders of Headline in 1986, alongside Sian Thomas and Hachette c.e.o. Tim Hely Hutchinson. She moved to Hodder in 1993, first as deputy m.d. and more recently eschewing any official job title.

Fletcher said: "I have spent more than 40 years in this amazing business, and have been especially lucky in my Hodder and Headline colleagues and the wonderful authors I have worked with. Leaving them will be a wrench, but 62¾ feels like the right age to make a change. I plan to spend even more time at the theatre, in the kitchen and beating Martin Neild to hot new restaurants."

Hachette c.e.o. Tim Hely Hutchinson said: "Sue and I have worked closely together for 30 years. She was a brilliant editorial director at Macdonald Futura when we both arrived there to re-build that business.  We went on to found Headline in 1986, taking it from start-up to listing on The London Stock Exchange in 1991, much helped by her publishing of bestselling fiction authors including Martina Cole, and to merge with Hodder & Stoughton in 1993. 

"Sue was the key figure in Hodder’s renaissance as it set its sights on becoming the most brilliant publisher of brilliant authors. Since 2002 she has withdrawn from day-to-day management to concentrate on publishing a superb list of authors.

"Sue sets the platinum standard for the qualities that make a great editor and a fabulous colleague, supporting her authors in every imaginable way and, less publicly,  providing Jamie Hodder-Williams, Martin Neild, many other colleagues and, for the longest time, me, with constant good-humoured encouragement, advice, good food, good reading and good fun.  

"I shall not be missing her, because I intend to see her very often, but I thank her more than I know how to say (without her editorial help) and I wish her every happiness in the future."

Hodder m.d. Jamie Hodder-Williams said: "[Fletcher] has been an incredible advocate for her authors' work, a brilliant advisor and supporter of more junior colleagues, and has always arranged the best events, dinners and outings. We will miss Sue's editorial versatility and clarity of thought, but I know that Carolyn Mays and her team will continue to build on her superb legacy."

Some reorganisation of staff will take place at Hodder following Fletcher's departure, with details to be confirmed.
 

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