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Kerr MacRae, Headline's deputy managing director, will join Simon & Schuster in January as its executive director, taking charge of the publisher's paperback business and UK and international sales teams. He will start in this newly created role on 13th January. MacRae will report to managing director Ian Chapman.
MacRae will have responsibility for the Pocket paperback imprint, with publisher Julie Wright reporting to him. Francine Lawrence, editorial director of Simon & Schuster Illustrated Books, will also report into MacRae.
He will also assume responsibility for directing the Simon & Schuster UK and International sales teams, which are lead by Christine Jones and Nick Hayward respectively. MacRae will also oversee the adult marketing, adult art and the third party and distributed lines businesses.
Chapman said: "A popular and hugely respected figure in our trade, [McRae] brings with him a wealth of experience and publishing expertise, along with a reputation for excellence in all areas of our business that will help us to achieve our many aspirations. It is a very significant moment for the company: a great deal has been achieved in these last few years in terms of list building, team building and both top and bottom line growth. The aim now is to continue that growth and we have ambitious plans to do just that."
MacRae, in a statement issued through Simon & Schuster, said: "I am extremely excited myself to be joining this highly creative, hard-working and talented group at a point where I can help them achieve their collective aims for growth in the business and delivering results that equal their aspirations and the aspirations of their authors – both established international brands and debuts alike.
"Ian and his team have made Simon & Schuster the rising star of the main trade publishers, created a vision for their long term future and have absolutely everything to play for. I am delighted to be getting the opportunity to get stuck in and help them achieve more and more and more."
MacRae joined Hodder & Stoughton in 1985 and moved to Headline 1997. He has worked with authors such as Martina Cole, Stephen King, John Le Carré, Andrea Levy, James Patterson, Maggie O’Farrell, Penny Vincenzi, Josephine Cox, Victoria Hislop, Wendy Holden, Simon Scarrow and Sheila O’Flanagan.
In a statement, Hachette said it would make an announcement about appointments and strategy at Headline tomorrow [Tuesday]. Last month, Headline chief executive Kate Wilson left the publisher only five months after joining. Headline m.d. Martin Neild is due to retire early next year.
Hachette UK c.e.o. Tim Hely Hutchinson said: "Kerr has been an invaluable member of the Headline team and the Hachette Group. He has had a profound influence at Headline, leading the company in its present "can do" attitude and the uncompromising pursuit of success.
"He has given tremendous support to the careers of numerous authors, building their sales and reputations in Britain and around the world. He is the most generous and cooperative of colleagues and in this and many other ways, he has made a huge contribution to our business over many years, and will be much missed. He leaves with our grateful thanks and very best wishes for the future."
In the Hachette statement, MacRae said: "I’ve had 12 fabulous years with Headline and Hodder before that, where I have worked with the best commercial team of colleagues and the best authors in the business. It’s been an incredibly exciting time and I’m very proud of what we have achieved at Headline. I look forward to working until the end of the year to help put in place plans for Headline’s future, and I wish everyone involved all possible success in the coming years."