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The IPG is looking to attract more mid-size publishers, to generate a "trickle-down" flow of information to help start-up and smaller groups, according to the guild's new chairman Andrew Johnston. It follows the decision taken at this year's IPG conference by keynote speak Bloomsbury c.e.o. Nigel Newton to join, as revealed earlier this week by The Bookseller.
Speaking after the event, Johnston, who is also managing director of Quiller, said building this side of the membership was his main priority for the year, although he stressed it would not be "at the expense" of existing members. He added: "We get a constant and regular membership of smaller, start-up publishers, but what is so valuable is to be able to talk to those who have been around 20 or 30 years—that is what I found was hugely advantageous when I started up Quiller."
Johnston formed Quiller in 2001, having worked at Foyles, Random House and Penguin. He said he would be using his contacts throughout the industry to attract new companies to the guild. He said: "I want to bring not necessarily the biggest groups, but the middle-level ones that have found their niche, have experience both at home and overseas, and can talk with knowledge about printing and costs, and how to plan ahead.
"One thing we don't want is to get too large. We don't want to lose sight of what we can do for our core members—helping smaller publishers develop. If we can do that by bringing in more mid-size members, that is the way to go."
Johnston said this was already being reflected through the IPG's mentoring scheme, which officially launched in October, and for which there was a call for more participants at the conference.
Johnston reiterated the desire of Bridget Shine, IPG executive director, to replace the funds that came previously through the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, which go towards training. Johnston said: "It's the basis of the IPG to offer training and support to new and existing members. I am optimistic we will be able to replace it, if not improve on it."
He added: "I am very bullish about the year coming up, and was particularly pleased about the atmosphere at the conference, which was not quite 'what recession?' but almost."