Bonnier Publishing has formed Bonnier Publishing USA, which will bring together the company's imprints in the U.S.: start-up publisher Little Bee Books and veteran publisher Weldon Owen. Bonnier Publishing USA is "part of an ambitious program for growth led by Group CEO Richard Johnson," according to the company. Shimul Tolia, president of Little Bee Books, has been promoted to CEO of Bonnier Publishing USA. Roger Shaw, president and publisher of Weldon Owen U.S., will continue to lead Bonnier Publishing USA's West Coast operations and will report to Tolia.
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| Shimul Tolia | |
Bonnier Publishing USA will establish a new flagship office, relocating Little Bee Books from 853 Broadway to larger space at 251 Park Avenue South in New York City that will serve as the division's headquarters. Weldon Owen will remain at its offices in San Francisco, with marketing and p.r. staff in the New York office.
"This is an exciting time for us at Bonnier Publishing USA," said Tolia. "We launched Little Bee Books in NYC with four employees in 2014 and have grown exponentially in just two years. Including the established Weldon Owen business, we now have a dynamic U.S. company of over 40 employees. Our results over the last year demonstrate a strategy that is working and a strong foundation for growth. We can't wait to relocate to our new offices in New York City and look forward to bringing more of our books to more people."
Group CEO Johnson commented: "We have risen from nowhere to be the fourth largest publisher in the U.K. and we intend to drive the same growth strategy in the U.S. in the coming years. Bonnier Publishing USA, headed by the hugely impressive Shimul Tolia, provides the perfect platform for this. Our combined U.S. operation currently accounts for $40 million of this and the plan is for growth in the USA to $100 million by the end of 2019."