Hachette announces key promotions

Tuesday 29 September, London, UK – Hachette UK today announced the promotions of Katie Espiner to CEO, Hachette UK, Charlie King to Deputy CEO, Hachette UK, and Richard Kitson to President & Chief Operating Officer, Global English Language, Hachette. 

David Shelley becomes Executive Chair of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group, alongside a new role as global advisor to the CEO and Deputy CEO of Hachette Livre (Arnaud Lagardère and Jean-Christophe Thiery). 

In addition, Carrie Bloxson is promoted to Chief Strategy and Inclusion Officer, widening her remit across both Hachette Book Group and Hachette UK, and working alongside Lisa Waterman, Hachette UK Chief People Officer, whose role expands to senior advisor to the US HR team. All changes will be effective from 1 January 2027. 

Arnaud Lagardère, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hachette Livre, said: “We are delighted to work even more closely with David in his new roles. Bolstered by the exceptional success of our English-language divisions in recent years, we are counting on his key role to expand international collaboration across the Group, share our expertise, and develop new synergies that help achieve our ambitions for growth.”

Shelley said “I would like to congratulate Katie, Richard, Charlie and Carrie on these extremely well-deserved promotions. Each brings something exceptional to our business, and each has contributed hugely to our success. 

We’ve had several years of terrific growth, and in 2025 sold more books to more readers than ever before, with 2026 shaping up extremely well too. I know Katie will build on this momentum, leading our publishing to new heights and, together with Charlie King, find new readers for our authors’ and illustrators’ work. This evolution of the management structure will also allow us to become even more operationally aligned across the UK and the US under Richard’s leadership, and to help us further our growth plans for client sales and distribution services. And with Carrie’s promotion, the two businesses will become even more aligned in terms of cultural strategy and inclusion. 

In turn, I’m hugely looking forward to spending more time with the wider Hachette Livre Group. Hachette publishes in three of the world’s most widely spoken languages – French, English and Spanish – and I’m grateful to Arnaud and Jean-Christophe for the opportunity to work with them and the wider Hachette Livre team to expand our readership in existing markets and to open up new markets.”

Over the past nine years of Shelley’s tenure, Hachette UK has grown revenues by 62%, while, in the past three years overseeing Hachette Book Group, it has advanced to become the third-biggest trade publisher in the US for the first time in 12 years, delivering 18% increase in revenues in this time.  

Beyond financial growth, Shelley supported the creation and expansion of “Changing the Story,” which is now in its 10th year. This foundational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion has spearheaded industry-leading initiatives including traineeships, writer development programs, and professional mentoring, all co-created and run in close collaboration with the company’s employee networks. It also led to the creation of Hachette’s national offices, aimed at widening the talent pool across the UK, with offices in Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Edinburgh, and over 175 HUK employees working from these hubs. 

As part of the new role, Shelley will move back to the UK and be based between Hachette’s offices in London, New York, Madrid, and Paris. 

At Hachette Book Group, Ben Sevier will step up to CEO, Hachette Book Group, and there is also an expanded role for Sally Kim to include setting up a new Canadian publishing program alongside her existing role as President and Publisher of Little, Brown and Company. 

Espiner said: “It is an honour to be the first female CEO to lead Hachette UK, and I want to thank Arnaud, Jean-Christophe and David for the opportunity. I am excited to work closely with Charlie, Richard, Carrie and our brilliant colleagues and partners around the world, along with our authors, illustrators and creators, to continue to reach and inspire as many readers as we can.”

Kitson said: “Working closely with David over the years has been such a privilege, and I’ve especially enjoyed the past three, during which our roles have spanned the US and UK. I’m delighted to take on this new position and look forward to working with Katie and Charlie to shape the future of Hachette UK, and with Ben at HBGUS.”

King said: “I’m proud and honoured to be stepping up to a bigger role at Hachette after nearly two decades with the group. I am very excited about working with Katie, Richard and the rest of the team to take the business into the future, and I’m delighted to be able to continue overseeing Little, Brown, Octopus and our international divisions.”

Bloxson said: “Having worked closely with colleagues across HBG and HUK, I know how much talent and possibility exists across both businesses. I’m incredibly excited to take on this wider role and help create stronger connections between our strategy and the cultures we are continuing to build. I’m also thrilled to support Katie as she steps into the CEO role and help bring her vision for Hachette UK to life.”