Alison Ruane has been appointed managing director of Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB). She succeeds Belinda Ioni Rasmussen as boss of the children’s division of Pan Macmillan.
Ruane, who previously worked as communications director for Macmillan Children’s Books, has worked in publishing for 23 years which includes a five-year tenure as associate publisher acting as deputy to the m.d. at HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Ruane joined Pan Macmillan four years ago and has led her communications team to deliver campaigns for bestselling authors and illustrators including Rod Campbell, Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, John Patrick Green, Lydia Monks, Marcus Rashford and Leah Williamson, as well as this year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winner, Greenwild by Pari Thomson.
Prior to Pan Macmillan, Ruane was brand strategy director at HarperCollins Children’s Books where she was responsible for the global brand management of The World of David Walliams, as well as for classic, licensed and pre-school brands.
Ruane said:“It’s a privilege and a joy to be stepping up to lead Macmillan Children’s Books, home to many of the most loved children’s authors, illustrators and brands in the UK and worldwide. I’m enormously proud of our team: for the creativity and commitment they show to our authors and illustrators every day and for their passion for reaching as many families as possible with our books and transforming children into lifelong readers.
She added: “There will be challenges ahead: economic factors and the long shadow of covid makes the task of reaching children increasingly difficult, but the industry is ripe with opportunities too and I look forward to working with Joanna and the leadership team at Pan Macmillan to build MCB further.”
Joanna Prior, c.e.o of Pan Macmillan, said: “I’m delighted that Alison will be leading Macmillan Children’s Books through the next stages of its growth. Her strategic vision and reader-centric approach will ensure we continue to publish the highest quality children’s books with purpose and her integrity, warmth and emotional intelligence will help us to continue to attract talent, whilst building the strongest possible relationships with our authors, illustrators and partners. Vitally, she is also a passionate advocate for the transformative power of books and reading and is committed to reaching out to families in underserved communities with little or no access to books. I’m looking forward to welcoming Alison to the leadership team at Pan Macmillan and to working with her more closely.”
Ruane will officially begin the new role on 5th August. She will report to Prior. Rasmussen, who held the role for 12 years, has since moved to Walker Books as global president and publisher.
