Bonnier Books UK has announced two major promotions within its audio team. Marina Stavropoulou has been made managing editor, while Chelsea Graham has been appointed senior editor.
Marina Stavropoulou joined Bonnier Books UK from PRH in 2019 and has played a key role in the expansion of the company’s audio catalogue, including helping to grow the company’s audio-first imprint, twelve point. In her new role, she will manage the audio output for both the Black & White Publishing Group and Digital divisions, and will line-manage the team’s new audio assistant Emma Kiesling. Stavropoulou – who has worked on the likes of The Islander written by Chris Blackwell and narrated by Bill Nighy and Life, Love and Loss the bestselling poetry title by Donna Ashworth – will report into Jon Watt, trade audio & business development director
Stepping up to the role of senior editor, Chelsea Graham, who joined Bonnier Books UK from Bloomsbury in 2022, will be responsible for production of audio content across the Zaffre and Manilla imprints. In the past year, Graham has worked on some of the company’s biggest fiction titles, including Heather Morris’ Sisters Under the Rising Sun and T.M. Logan’s The Dream Home. She will report into Laura Makela, head of audio, Zaffre Publishing Group.
Jon Watt, trade audio & business development director said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted to announce these very well-deserved promotions. As our audio output continues to grow, it’s crucial that we have the right people in key positions, and both Marina and Chelsea are hugely talented and valued members of the team.”
Bonnier Books UK has reported greater than 30% growth in year on year audio revenue since 2018. The last year has seen the launch of twelve point’s first audio original, Fugitive!; an Audible and Apple Top 10 bestseller for Boy George’s Karma; Ashley Cain’s Strong selected as an Apple Books Audiobook of the Year; and a win for the acclaimed audiobook of Minnie Driver’s Managing Expectations at the IPG’s Independent Publishing Awards. 2024 audio highlights include: Lynda La Plante’s much-anticipated memoir; Stacey Halls’ The Household; the new Donna Ashworth poetry collection; and Hits Different by Tasha Ghouri and Lizzie Huxley-Jones.
