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Martin Neild, managing director of Headline and chief executive of Hodder & Stoughton and John Murray, is to step back from his full-time publishing position in "early 2010". The move follows Neild's "long-held personal plan", and the appointment of Kate Wilson to the position of chief executive of Headline.
Jamie Hodder-Williams, managing director of Hodder & Stoughton, will assume the title of chief executive of Hodder & Stoughton and John Murray when Neild relinquishes the full-time role. Roland Philipps will continue as managing director of John Murray. Both Hodder-Williams and Wilson will then report direct to Hachette UK chief executive Tim Hely-Hutchinson. Neild will continue as a consultant to Hachette UK until "at least the middle of 2011 and probably beyond".
Richard Kitson, Hachette UK commercial director, will at the same time take responsibility for Hachette Ireland, in addition to his present responsibilities.
Neild joined Hodder Headline in 1993, shortly after the group was created from the merger of Hodder & Stoughton and Headline, as managing director of Hodder & Stoughton. In 2001, Neild was promoted to be overall responsible for Headline and eventually John Murray, Hachette Ireland and Hachette Scotland, as well as Hodder & Stoughton.
Hachette UK chief executive, Tim Hely Hutchinson said: "Martin has worked alongside me to recruit Kate and has persuaded me that her joining us makes it possible for him to move, as he has long discussed with me, to a part-time consultancy role. Martin and I have been friends for some 30 years, colleagues more than once and we have worked together for the last 16 years. I am more grateful than I can possibly express not only for all the success his leadership has brought us, but also for his steadfast personal support through thick and thin and I am delighted that he has agreed to continue working for us on a new part-time basis. Although it is still a long way off, I also wish him extremely well with his other plans and like the sound of the Italian viticulture.”
Neild said: "I can think of no other publishers I would rather work for than Hachette, Hodder and Headline but, after 16 incredibly enjoyable years with the group as it has grown, I have for a while been planning a change of direction to enable me to pursue other longer term interests. I now feel able to put this plan into effect as a result of the announcements we are making today about Headline.
"I shall miss working with my wonderful colleagues and the group’s authors on a day to day basis, but am absolutely delighted that I shall be remaining in close contact with everyone in my new role, while continuing to work closely with Tim on some exciting projects across the group."