This morning Bookseller reported that Penguin UK will lay-off around 100 people in the publisher’s London offices. As the publisher restructures, Penguin UK managing director Helen Fraser will retire, and be replaced by Tom Weldon as deputy chief executive.
The cuts affected almost 10 percent of Penguin UK’s employees, and the company will consolidate adult publishing into three divisions. While the Penguin list will not change, the DK list will be reduced by 20 percent from the 250 titles it currently produces.
Here’s more on the company’s restructuring: “[There will be] three adult divisions: Michael Joseph, under Louise Moore; Penguin General (including Viking, Hamish Hamilton, Fig Tree and Penguin Ireland) run by Joanna Prior; and Penguin Press under Stefan McGrath. A new children’s division is also to be created under Stephanie Barton as managing director, comprising Puffin, Frederick Warne, Ladybird and BBC Children.”