Leaver, Smith announce new publishing business

In the UK, former Quarto Group CEO Marcus Leaver and former Bonnier Zaffre CEO Mark Smith have launched a new trade publishing business, Welbeck Publishing Group.

Based in London, with Leaver and Smith as executive directors, Welbeck plans to expand by ‘incubating start-up businesses in scalable areas of the market’ and acquiring established companies. The company will publish illustrated nonfiction and children’s books for the co-edition market, as well as commercial fiction and nonfiction.

In a statement, Welback also announced the acquisition of its first company, UK illustrated publisher Carlton Books. Carlton founder Jonathan Goodman will stay on in his role as publisher-at-large.

‘We have long-term funding that will enable us to build the Group patiently, working with our extensive network of partners, authors, illustrators and photographers around the world,’ said Leaver. ‘Carlton is an excellent springboard for us, and we are pleased Jonathan is staying with the company in a new guise.’

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, Smith stepped down from his position at Bonnier Zaffre in July 2018, while Leaver resigned from Quarto in May 2018, following significant downturn in the company’s profits.

Category: International news