Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Penguin Random House NZ announce appointment of MD

Margaret Thompson appointed Managing Director of
Penguin Random House New Zealand

30 April 2014 Auckland: Penguin Random House today announced a new leadership structure in New Zealand with Margaret Thompson appointed to the newly created position of Managing Director, Penguin Random House New Zealand.

Gabrielle Coyne, Chief Executive Officer Penguin Random House Asia Pacific, said, “I am delighted Margaret has accepted this important new role.  Along with her wide ranging experience, Margaret brings a strong mix of publishing acumen, matched with an unwavering sales optimism and flair.”

Margaret Thompson’s career in publishing spans more than 30 years across Australia and New Zealand. She has been Managing Director of Penguin New Zealand since 2005.  In 2007 Margaret steered the acquisition of Reed Publishing and in 2009 led Penguin’s acquisition of Mallinson Rendell Publishing; the originating publisher of Lynley Dodd, author of the global bestselling Hairy Maclary books, which have now sold over 9 million copies worldwide.

Margaret Thompson said, “I am delighted to accept this position and look forward to leading the Penguin Random House team to create an exciting new company which will continue to be committed to local publishing, supportive of our authors and booksellers and focused on maintaining a vibrant and creative presence in New Zealand.”

With Margaret’s appointment, Karen Ferns Joint Managing Director of Random House Australia and New Zealand will sadly leave the company on 16 May.


Karen has made an invaluable contribution to Random House growing the sales and company over many years.  Highly respected within the publishing industry, Karen has been a passionate advocate for New Zealand and New Zealand publishing.  She joined Random House New Zealand as Sales and Marketing Director in 1999 and was appointed Managing Director in 2008. In 2012 she was appointed Joint Managing Director of Random House Australia and New Zealand.

2 comments:

Page and Blackmore Booksellers said...

As a provincial bookseller, I trust that the marvellous current 'can do' attitude at Random stays. It would be a shame to see that change to the mediocre Penguin model.

Brian Phillips said...

I am greatly saddened to hear of the pending departure of Karen Ferns from Penguin Random House. Karen has led Random House New Zealand with considerable skill since the departure of Michael Moynahan and has continued the traditions of excellence demonstrated by Michael and introduced by his predecessor Juliet Rogers. Random has been consistently outstanding in sales management and representation, customer service and distribution. Their New Zealand Publishing sets the standards others aspire to and their inventory management has been second to none. All of this whilst Karen has been at the helm. She steered the ship through the turbulent seas of the Whitcoulls melt-down prior to the purchase by the Norman family and has remained calm in the face of the myriad of other problems this industry has experienced in recent years. She is greatly respected and admired by her peers and her staff. Penguin Random House will be the poorer for her departure.