Quercus plots to become top five UK trade publisher

05.09.11 | Lisa Campbell - The Bookseller

Quercus plans to increase its staff numbers by 40% within the next three years, as it aims to become one of the UK’s top five trade publishers.

The indie outfit is currently ranked as the 14th largest UK operation in terms of sales value, and hopes to compete with Pan Macmillan for the fifth spot in the hierarchy. At the same time, Quercus wants to increase its staff from its current number of 60 to 100 within three years.
The company has recently moved to new premises, at 55 Baker Street, London. Mark Smith, Quercus c.e.o, said: “We don’t want to muck around. If you are not one of the 100 people working on the seventh floor in three years’ time, you are not one of the best people in the business.”
The company, which won the Publisher of the Year award at The Bookseller Industry Awards 2011 in May, this week appointed a new finance director, Paul Lenton, and has reshuffled its board of directors.
Smith added: “With Paul’s appointment and a refocusing of our efforts onto the three key opportunities for Quercus—namely: the discovery, nurturing and delivery of world-class intellectual property; digital product innovation and the development of online reading communities; and a global sales and marketing strategy—we feel that we now have in place the most effective management structure to enable Quercus to continue to deliver on its ambitions.”