Press Release
Hachette UK appoints new Managing Director Distribution18/05/2009
Hachette UK is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Davidson to the role of Managing Director Distribution for the Hachette UK group.
Simon will report to Chris Emerson, the group’s Chief Operating Officer. He will be directly responsible for all aspects of the group’s logistics operations, including customer service and credit control, at HUK’s distribution centres Bookpoint and Littlehampton Book Services (LBS). The senior management teams at Bookpoint and LBS will report directly to Simon.
Simon has had a distinguished career in logistics and supply chain management with companies including L’Oreal, Sony Music, Gallaher, and most recently Frontline, the largest distributor of magazines in the UK. These roles spanned both UK and International responsibilities. When not working, he spends his time reading (of course!), listening to music, gardening, skiing, and learning to fly. He is married to Anita and they have lived in Devon for the last 17 years.
Chris Emerson said, “I am thrilled to have found someone of Simon’s calibre and experience to lead our distribution organisation. The efficient supply of books and the high standard of service we give to retailers is absolutely fundamental to the success of all the publishers in the Hachette group and to our third party clients. Simon’s appointment signals our commitment to the continued development of our operations to ensure that our service levels and logistics infrastructure remain the very best in British publishing.’
Simon Davidson said ‘I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to join Hachette and to be able to take part in its continuing drive to extend the boundaries of service excellence. My experience gained in a number of different product categories including media will complement that of the in-house team and allow us together to consolidate and strengthen Hachette’s position at the forefront of book distribution.’
Simon joins HUK on 7th September. He will divide his time between Hachette’s London offices in the Euston Road and the Bookpoint and LBS distribution centres.
For further information, please contact Clare Harington, Group Communications Director on 0207 873 6108.
Hachette UK is the largest and one of the most diversified book publishers in the UK. The UK group is made up of several publishing companies and imprints including Hachette Children’s Books, Headline Publishing Group, Hodder & Stoughton, Hodder Education, John Murray, Little, Brown Publishing Group, Octopus Publishing Group and Orion Publishing Group with international companies Hachette Book Group Australia, Hachette New Zealand, Hachette India, Hachette Ireland and Hachette Scotland.
Hachette UK is owned by Hachette Livre, the second largest publisher in the world, based in France, and led by Président Directeur Général Arnaud Nourry. Hachette Livre is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lagardère, a leading company on the Paris stock exchange.