Milne to join HarperCollins; Leading Edge Books to become part of new entertainment division

Monday, 22 October 2012 Books+Publishing

Leading Edge Group has announced that Leading Edge Books general manager Simon Milne is leaving the group to join HarperCollins Australia in the newly created role of marketing communications director.

Leading Edge Group said in a statement that Milne, who is also marketing and communications manager for the group, will finish in his current roles on 9 November. He will start in the new role with HarperCollins on 19 November.

As previously reported by Bookseller+Publisher, HarperCollins said in September that it would begin looking for a marketing communications director following the amalgamation of its publicity and marketing divisions.

Milne joined Leading Edge Books in January 2010 and is a former CEO of campus bookseller Co-op Bookshop.

Leading Edge Group managing director Tony Middlebrook said in a statement that a new management structure will be established following Milne’s departure, and the Leading Edge Books Group ‘will report into a newly created Entertainment Group including books, music and video’. ‘We are sorry to see Simon leave,’ said Middlebrook. ‘Our books group has gone from strength to strength under his leadership.’

Middlebrook said the Leading Edge Group is ‘excited about the new management team structure’, which he said ‘will benefit our members as they diversify and find new opportunities for growth’.

Milne said in the same statement that it has been a ‘great privilege to work with so many talented independent booksellers over the past three years’. ‘I have made a lot of new friends during my time at Leading Edge Books and I have enjoyed it immensely,’ said Milne. ‘It has also been a pleasure to work with all of the publishers, whose continuing support has been essential to the strength of independent bookselling in Australia.’

HarperCollins Australia and New Zealand CEO James Kellow said in a statement that he is delighted to announce Milne’s appointment to the new position. ‘I’m delighted to have someone of Simon’s calibre, creativity and breadth of experience to lead our combined marketing and publicity team through what I believe will be an incredibly exciting period as we find new and different ways of communicating with readers,’ said Kellow.

Category: Local news