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The increasing importance of digital publishing has been a strong influence on the new entrants to The Bookseller 100, the definitive list of the most influential people in the book trade.
Thirty-six new names have graced the 100, which is heavily influenced by the changing ways of how people read and buy books following the UK launches of the Amazon Kindle store and Apple iPad. The latter’s iBookstore manager, Georgina Atwell, is one of the new entries, reflecting how she will influence the future digital landscape. Gordon Willoughby, Amazon EU’s director of Kindle, also appears for the first time, having overseen the launch of the UK Kindle store and Amazon’s battle with publishers over the agency pricing model.
Publishing’s digital gurus also feature, with Tim Cooper, direct and digital marketing director at Harlequin Mills & Boon, Random House Digital director Fionnuala Duggan, Penguin Digital m.d. Anna Rafferty, HarperCollins group digital director David Roth-Ey and Bloomsbury’s m.d. for group sales and marketing Evan Schnittman more new entrants.
The recession led to a number of trade figures dropping out of the 100. Former Waterstone’s m.d. Gerry Johnson’s sacking from the chain has resulted in his becoming one of the retail casualties, while Luke Johnson’s sale of his stake in Borders, before the chain plunged into administration, also led to his omission from the list.
Just under half of the 100 are publishers, with 35 figures from trade, seven academic and five children’s. In another sign of how prominent bookselling is online, there are as many internet retailers as there are chain booksellers, both with six listed.
The list comprises UK-based figures therefore excludes the likes of Amazon chief Jeff Bezos and Apple’s Steve Jobs. The 100 were judged on turnover, longevity, innovation and influence.