Bonnier Books today announces that Weldon Owen has been acquired by publisher Insight Editions, based near San Francisco, California. The business will operate as Weldon Owen International, a newly formed subsidiary of Insight Editions.
“The alliance of Insight and Weldon Owen provides an ideal synergy. The level of quality and innovation at Weldon Owen is the perfect complement for Insight’s long-standing brand position of providing high-quality products rooted in long-term partnerships”, said Raoul Goff, Insight’s Founder and CEO.
For more than 30 years, Weldon Owen has built a reputation as a premier publisher of cookbooks, lifestyle, children’s reference and educational titles. “These specialties are a wonderful fit with Insight’s product offering and it is exciting to bring the two organizations together to join creative forces and share resources,” said Goff.
John Owen, who co-founded Weldon Owen with Kevin Weldon in 1984, will return to the company with responsibility for the children’s division. “I am looking forward to helping Weldon Owen return to its roots by focusing on the children’s educational category which has always been a particular passion of mine,” said Owen.
The sale follows a strategic review by Bonnier Books in 2017. “Bonnier Books could not have found a better home for Weldon Owen than its original co-founder John Owen and Raoul Goff of Insight Editions. It really is like a homecoming story,” said Magnus Brundin, Director of Corporate Development of Bonnier Books.
Roger Shaw will remain President and Publisher of Weldon Owen San Francisco with CEO Michael Madden who is moving over from Insight Editions to spearhead the effort of reconnecting the UK operation with the US-based team. The leadership team will be focused on bringing an innovative and fresh approach to custom and corporate packaging in the areas of legacy, food and drink, lifestyle, and children’s publishing, as well as expanding to a greater international market.
Weldon Owen will continue to be distributed by Simon and Schuster and Publishers Group UK and will sharpen its focus in the areas of co-editions publishing, packaging, and custom publishing.
