Hachette UK appoints Maura Wilding as Group Communications Director

Hachette UK has appointed Maura Wilding as its new Group Communications Director, as Doyel Maitra steps down at the end of October 2022 for new opportunities outside the publishing industry. Wilding will return from parental leave to take up her new role on 14^th September 2022. Based at Hachette UK’s London office, she will become a member of the Hachette UK Board.

In her three years at Orion, Wilding led the restructure of the Publicity team and delivered award-winning campaigns, including Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams and My Life in Red and White by Arsène Wenger. In 2021, she stepped up to lead the Communications team and was integral in Orion’s Publisher of the Year win at The British Book Awards. Prior to Orion, in 2015, Wilding launched her agency Maura PR & Communications, with clients such as Jessie Burton and Ann Cleeves. She has also held roles at Riot Communications, Headline and Bloomsbury. For the past two years, Wilding has been included in The Bookseller’s 150, having previously been selected for PR Week’s 30 Under 30 and named a Rising Star in The Bookseller.

David Shelley, CEO of Hachette UK, said: “I’ve learnt so much working with Doyel over the past few years. She has brought a fresh perspective from outside the industry which has informed our corporate communication for the future. She was also a real asset to the Hachette UK Board while managing stakeholder issues during the pandemic, and I will miss her input very much. I wish her well with all her future plans.

“Looking forward, I am extremely excited about working closely with Maura, and to her joining the Hachette UK Board. She has done incredible work at Orion since she joined in 2018, and I know she will bring her incomparable dynamism, creativity and passion for books to her new role.”

Maura Wilding said: “I have adored my time at Orion and will forever be grateful to Katie Espiner and Sarah Benton for luring me back in-house. Our incredible Communications team, which is packed with superstars, have made every day so rewarding. Since returning to Hachette UK, I have been seriously impressed by how Hachette commits to challenging norms and creating change. It’s such an exciting place to be, so the opportunity to be part of driving and accelerating change is an unmissable one.”

Orion have appointed Wilding’s replacement and will announce their new Communications and Strategy Director next week.

Maura Wilding can be contacted on maura.wilding@hachette.co.uk from 14 September 2022.