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Hachette Book Group chairman and c.e.o. David Young will return to the UK to head up Orion next year, with current Orion c.e.o. Peter Roche to retire.
Roche, who is also Hachette UK deputy c.e.o., is retiring in June 2013 after a 40 year publishing career. Young will succeed him at both posts.
Young is leaving Hachette Book Group USA on 31st March 2013, stepping down as its c.e.o. However, he will continue to hold the post of chairman for the US arm.
Roche said: "I have enjoyed my 40 years in publishing immensely and particularly the last 10 years as chief executive of Orion. I would like to thank all my colleagues at Orion for their enormous support over the last 20 years and I know that Orion will continue to thrive with David Young at the helm."
Roche's first role in publishing was as finance director at Futura. In 1982, he left to co-found Century Publishing with Anthony Cheetham, Rosie de Courcy and Gail Rebuck. In 1992, following Century's merger with Hutchinson and subsequent acquisition by Random House, Roche left to co-found The Orion Publishing Group where he was group managing director. Hachette Livre acquired Orion in 1998 and in 2003 Roche became c.e.o. of Orion. He became deputy chief executive of Hachette UK in 2004.
Young said: "I was thrilled to be offered the role of deputy c.e.o. of Hachette UK by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and really needed no time to accept it as I have so enjoyed working with him from the inception of Hachette Book Group in April 2006. We have forged a strong relationship and share similar views on the main issues and opportunities facing our business. I am very excited to become c.e.o. of Orion, a stellar publisher."
Hachette UK c.e.o. Tim Hely Hutchinson said: "Peter had already had a brilliant career in publishing by the time he and I were appointed to Hachette UK in 2004. From the minute we began to work together, Peter became an ally and a most supportive and highly competent deputy, wearing his HUK group hat in trade negotiations and dealing with third party publishers and distribution arrangements. But first and foremost he has led the company he co-founded from strength to strength within the wider Hachette group."
He added: "I am delighted and honoured David has agreed to partner me at Hachette UK and to lead Orion. He will provide superb support for our incredibly talented authors and publishing team and I believe he will be a magnet for new talent too, taking Orion forward into a brilliant new phase of development."
Hachette Livre chairman Arnaud Nourry said: "From the moment Peter took over as c.e.o., the business was quickly transformed into a modern, accountable, profitable and very brilliant publishing house. He has always been the most superb colleague, widely liked and admired throughout the Hachette group. I am personally most grateful for both his loyalty and his great achievements. These have spanned his key roles at Hachette UK as well as Orion. He is still very much with us of course, but when he does retire, he will be able to look back with pride on a truly fantastic career."