Titles pictured by the new Gemini Books Group on its London Book Fair stand listing. Images: LBF
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Rights, Sales, and Publishing Appointments
Our readers will remember that Marcus Leaver told the news media on December 4 that he was forming the Gemini Books Group, with its focus being on nonfiction gift books and children’s books in both the United Kingdom’s and United States’ markets.
Leaver is the former president of Sterling Publishing; the former CEO of the Quarto Group; and the co-founder in 2019 of the Welbeck Publishing Group. Welbeck, which was sold to Hachette UK at the end of November 2022. Welbeck has been mentioned today (February 27) in Lagardere’s Q4 report in which the year’s positive publishing revenue was tied in part to that Welbeck acquisition.
Initial announcements on Gemini have reported Leaver’s new company is designed to make its own gains “through the acquisition of established companies and by incubating start-up businesses in scalable areas of the market.”
With a stand set at London Book Fair (March 12 to 14) at 6E85, the information offered to LBF trade visitors lists brands represented by Gemini as including:
- Gemini Children’s Books
- Gemini Books
- Pimpernel Press
- Ad Lib
- Mardle
- Palazzo
‘We make beautiful, illustrated books for children and adults that spark readers’ imagination,” the company’s LBF descriptive information reads. “With the energy of a start-up, and a publishing pedigree spanning over 25 years, we champion exciting new authors and illustrators, and publish brilliant books that entertain readers of all ages.”
Today’s media messaging from the company announces three executive and directorial appointments:
Zoë Caulfield
Zoë Caulfield has been appointed executive director for North American sales.
Caulfield is also to oversee the foreign and subsidiary rights team. She left Hachette UK in December 2023, having led the integration of Welbeck.
Prior to being with Welbeck, Caulfield was at Penguin Random House for twelve years, where she ran the custom publishing department.
Adrian Greenwood
Adrian Greenwood has been appointed executive director of UK and worldwide sales.
Greenwood has worked in British and international sales for more 20 years, most recently as sales director for Magic Cat.
He has previously worked for Laurence King, Michael O’Mara and Quarto.
Steve Munnings
And Steve Munnings has been appointed group commercial director. He’s been sales director of Imagine That! for 10 years.
In his new role, Munnings is to lead Gemini’s commercial team with responsibility for sales operations, inventory control, and business development.
He is also to take on the role of publisher at Two Windmills, Gemini’s value books and toys business, launching later this year.
Marcus Leaver
In a comment on today’s news from Leaver, he writes that Caulfield “led an excellent team at Welbeck and achieved brilliant results in North America with our partners at Ingram Content.
“I’m pleased that she has decided an independent publishing business is her natural home.
“In addition, I’ve worked with Adrian [Greenwood] over the years and always found him to have market-driven instincts, the kind we need for Gemini.
“And in Steve [Munnings], we’re adding to the team one of the most tenacious salespeople I have worked with.”
Leaver is the chair of Think Media Group.
As an international trade news medium responsive to markets in many parts of the world, Publishing Perspectives is very selective in the industry-personnel news it reports. Our key criteria are the prominence of the appointment(s) involved and the presence of demonstrated or potential influence in world markets.
More from Publishing Perspectives on mergers and acquisitions is here, more on Welbeck Publishing Group is here, more on Quarto is here, and more on the UK market is here.
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