PRESS RELEASE June 2021

 

IPG LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AT ITS AGM

 

The Independent Publishers Guild is pleased to welcome Amanda Ridout of Boldwood Books as its new Chair.

Amanda brings a wealth of independent and multi-national publishing experience to the role. She founded Boldwood Books in February 2019, having previously worked as CEO of Head of Zeus and managing director of Phaidon, HarperCollins and Headline. Under her leadership, Boldwood Books won the 2020 Nick Robinson Newcomer Award at the 2020 Independent Publishing Awards, while Head of Zeus was named Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2017 British Book Awards.

Amanda succeeds Martin Casimir, formerly of Maths – No Problem! and Bloomsbury, as the Chair of the IPG. She is replaced as Vice Chair by Phil Turner, co-founder and managing director of Meze Publishing. The appointments were made at the IPG’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 24 June.

The AGM also set out the IPG’s ambitions for the next 12 months, which include a particular focus on improving the sustainability and diversity of independent publishing. It follows the launch of IPG action groups to drive change in both areas, including a new cross-industry collaboration with Carnstone (Book Chain Project) to transform publishing’s understanding of its environmental impacts.

Training will be another priority in the next year, including through the acquisition of the Publishing Training Centre which the IPG will run from January 2022. As well as extending its current programme of services, resources and events—including hybrid conferences and meetings when Covid-19 restrictions ease—the IPG will be aiming to attract even more independent publishers to its thriving community of more than 600 companies.

IPG chief executive Bridget Shine says: “I’m hugely grateful to Martin Casimir for his support as Chair of the IPG over the last two years and delighted to be welcoming Amanda to succeed him. She will be an invaluable asset to the IPG as we seek to find new ways to support our members, drive much-needed change and make the independent publishing sector even stronger.”

Amanda Ridout says: “I am excited to be taking over as Chair at a time when, alongside the continuing challenges of a post-pandemic world, there are many opportunities for independent publishers to reset their agendas and create a new and better normal. The IPG will be with its members every step of the way in building the new future together.”

For any further information please contact IPG chief executive Bridget Shine on 01437 563335 or email [email protected]