Latest news from The Bookseller

Symons makes Parragon move Former Penguin Random House group sales director Mike Symons has been appointed chief executive of Bath-based children’s publisher Parragon Books.

Comic publishers dismiss Marvel exec's comments as 'rubbish' Comic book publishers have slammed the recent comments made by a Marvel executive who blamed the inclusion of more diverse and female characters for its declining sales as “ill-judged” and “a load of rubbish”.

Toby Jones joins Headline as editorial director Toby Jones, formerly group marketing and publicity director at Simon & Schuster UK, is joining Headline's commercial fiction team next month as editorial director.

BolognaFiere to launch trade fair in New York BolognaFiere, the organisers of Bologna Children’s Book Fair, is set to launch a new copyright trade and licensing show in New York City in spring 2018.

Helen Huthwaite promoted to Avon publishing director Avon's editorial director Helen Huthwaite has been promoted to publishing director as the imprint expands and launches a new logo.

HCCB and Vivendi strike six-year Paddington deal HarperCollins Children’s Books (HCCB) has inked a six-year deal with French firm Vivendi for world publishing rights (including audiobook and e-book) to the Paddington brand.

Inside the Magic conjures up a number one Ian Nathan’s Inside the Magic: The Making of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (HarperCollins) has soared into the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, displacing Mary Berry Everyday (BBC) atop both the overall and Hardback Non-Fiction charts.

German illustrator Erlbruch wins £445k Astrid Lindgren Award German illustrator and author Wolf Erlbruch has been announced as the winner of the £445,000 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award after being described as a "caring and careful visonary".

First candidates awarded Carole Blake Open Doors Project placements Ada Igwebu and Connor Faulkner have been offered places by Blake Friedmann on its inaugural Carole Blake Open Doors Project, a programme encouraging candidates from diverse backgrounds to enter the publishing industry.

BBC to 'amplify UK's creative voice' in £4m drive Tony Hall, director-general of the BBC, has announced a new collective creative partnership, Culture UK, as part of the urgent call for the arts and creative industries to pull together.

Kogan Page wins CIPD contract Independent business and management publisher Kogan Page has won a contract with the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, to take responsibility for all of its academic and professional book publishing.