Bonnier Books UK has announced the hire of Carole Tonkinson as editor at large, joining the company’s leadership board.
Starting in the autumn, she will publish across both adult trade divisions – Zaffre Publishing Group and Black & White Publishing Group – working closely alongside the company’s established non-fiction imprints and publishers to acquire into their lists, as Bonnier Books UK takes the next significant steps forward in its ambitious strategy for sustainable, long-term growth.
Tonkinson arrives after nine hugely successful years at Pan Macmillan, where she founded the soaring Bluebird and One Boat imprints. Winner of Editor of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2020, her tenure at Bluebird has seen 33 titles land onto the Sunday Times bestseller list, hitting the #1 spot on 68 occasions. Bluebird is the 4th bestselling UK non-fiction imprint since its launch. Tonkinson commissioned and published both Joe Wicks and publishing phenomenon Pinch of Nom (the bestselling UK book of 2019); debut brands that sit amongst the bestselling Food and Drink titles of all-time, both selling in excess of 4.5m copies in the UK to date. She has also published notable bestsellers by the likes of Vex King, David Harewood, Cathy Rentzenbrink, and Mo Gawdat.
Tonkinson said: “The last nine years at Bluebird and Pan Macmillan have been wonderful. I could not have asked for lovelier, more generous colleagues or more inspiring, genuine and ground-breaking authors. Still, it is time for a new challenge and I have been watching Perminder build a vibrant, inclusive, visionary business at Bonnier. I could not resist her invitation to become part of her talented team.”
Perminder Mann, CEO, Bonnier Books UK added: “I’ve long admired Carole’s incredible publishing and impeccable commercial instincts from afar, and am truly thrilled to welcome her into the Bonnier Books UK fold. Her achievements at Bluebird and One Boat, acquiring ahead-of-trend authors and curating distinct, thriving lists has been extraordinary to watch. We look forward to supporting Carole in this next step and harnessing her considerable expertise and experience to push forward our strategy for growth across our own expanding non-fiction lists. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”
Joanna Prior, CEO at Pan Macmillan said: “Carole has built a wonderful business at Bluebird over the last nine years and leaves a stellar list of books and authors who we are immensely proud to publish. She has also built a committed and talented publishing team who will continue to acquire and publish wonderful books that help readers live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives. We all wish Carole the very best as she embarks on this next stage of her impressive career.”
