Odedina to leave Bloomsbury for Bonnier

19.07.11 | Benedicte Page - The Bookseller

Sarah Odedina is leaving her role as Bloomsbury's group editor-in-chief of children's fiction to become managing director and publisher of a new company for Bonnier Publishing.
Odedina, who oversaw publication of the entire Harry Potter series and has published three Carnegie Medal-winners, said: “I have had a wonderful 14 years at Bloomsbury where I have been a part of some incredible developments in the world of children's books. However, this exciting opportunity offered by Bonnier is simply one that I could not let pass me by and I very much look forward to the task of building a new list with them.”
The new Bonnier company will be a children's publisher based in central London, focusing on fiction across a wide age spectrum. A new team will be recruited over the next few months, with the company's first titles anticipated for autumn 2012.
Richard Johnson, c.e.o. of Bonnier Publishing, the UK-based subsidiary of Bonnier Books, itself a division of Swedish media group Bonnier AB, said: "I am thrilled and honoured that Sarah has agreed to join Bonnier and to have her considerable experience and vision to set up and run this exciting new venture. Bonnier is committed to grow in the English language and lead the way in quality children's publishing and we could have wished for no one better than Sarah, one of the UK's leading children's publishers, to head this new initiative."
Bloomsbury chief executive Nigel Newton said Odedina had had a "huge" influence on the company's children's publishing and on Bloomsbury as a whole, paying tribute to her "tremendous skill" and her record with Harry Potter. Emma Hopkin, who joined Bloomsbury as managing director of children's and educational publishing earlier this year, called Odedina a "generous and enthusiastic colleague" who would be greatly missed by authors, illustrators and colleagues alike. Hopkin promised a "smooth transfer" as a successor was recruited.
Odedina's leaving date is yet to be finalised.



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