Ubhi to lead new business imprint at Bonnier Books UK
Bonnier Books UK has appointed Rik Ubhi as editorial director, to lead a new business and smart thinking imprint that will explore “the modern world of work and ideas”.
Most recently co-owner and director of Zed Books, Ubhi has more than a decade of publishing experience and an impressive track record in building bestsellers and promoting under-represented voices to mainstream success.
Ubhi started his career at Tindal Street Press, before moving to Simon & Schuster UK where he spent several years in the marketing and publicity department. He joined the collective Zed Books as a co-owner and director, before it was acquired by Bloomsbury in 2020. Ubhi has worked with many Sunday Times bestselling and internationally acclaimed authors including Kehinde Andrews, Walter Isaacson, Nawal El Saadawi and Yanis Varoufakis. He is also a fellow of the RSA and an editorial board member for BookMachine.
Ubhi’s appointment marks a further step in the strategic realignment of the adult trade division’s non-fiction publishing programme, which recently saw the arrival of Michelle Signore as editorial director of health and wellbeing list Lagom.
Kate Parkin, Managing Director, Adult Trade Publishing, said: “There has never been a better time to launch a new business books list: the accelerated changes to the world of work over the last 12 months offer an ideal opportunity for genuinely innovative publishing in this area. Rik’s liveliness and creative entrepreneurialism are truly impressive, and he will be a brilliant fit with an exceptionally talented team already broadening the range of our non-fiction publishing. We are very excited to welcome him.”
Ubhi commented: “I am delighted at the prospect of taking up this role and joining a company as ambitious, energetic and pioneering as Bonnier Books UK. The chance to start a new imprint from scratch and build a list that properly reflects where we are in the modern world of work and ideas at this critical time is truly exciting, and I am looking forward to working with my brilliant new colleagues enormously.”
Ubhi will join the company on 22nd March, reporting into Kate Parkin, Managing Director, Adult Trade Publishing.
