Nico Poilblanc joins Firefinch as sales director

Nico Poilblanc has joined Firefinch as sales director from Quarto Books where he was head of UK trade sales, effective from 1st January 2026.

Poilblanc has worked across the publishing industry from Atlantic Books and Simon & Schuster to Bonnier Books UK and Welbeck. He joins a team comprising former Bonnier executives Kate Parkin, Margaret Stead and audience development director Blake Brooks.

Parkin said: ”It is a joy to be reunited with Nico, who played a key part in our early success at Zaffre. The breadth of his sales experience, his eye for detail, the strength of his relationships within the retail trade and, above all, his enthusiasm and passion for books and authors will contribute enormously to Firefinch’s future success.”

Stead added: “Nico brings with him a wealth of experience, of all aspects of the retail trade. He is not only vastly knowledgeable, highly professional, well-regarded and dedicated to his job, he is also a passionate reader and a wonderful colleague. We’re so lucky to have him on the Firefinch team.”

Poilblanc said: “While I was sad to leave the wonderful and talented team at Quarto, joining Firefinch at such an early stage of the company’s life and working with Kate, Margaret and Blake again is a thrilling opportunity that I couldn’t resist. I am in awe of the list they have already set up in such a short space of time, and I cannot wait to work with the wider team to champion these amazing authors’ works across the UK and international markets.”

Firefinch Publishing will be sold and distributed in the UK and in overseas markets by the Independent Alliance.