Louise Grosart has been appointed publishing strategy director at Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, and Alesha Bonser will take up the role of marketing director of brands and Gallery Kids/YA.
Grosart will join from PRH Children’s, where she is publisher of the Ladybird Trade list, and Bonser will join from Bloomsbury Children’s Books, where she is currently marketing director.
As publishing strategy director, Grosart will work on accelerating growth at Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, through a focus on brand and backlist publishing development, seeking cross-category opportunities — including format and content diversification — and advising on preschool publishing strategy. In previous roles, she has worked on brands including Bluey and Ten Minutes to Bed.
Grosart will report directly to managing director Rachel Denwood, and will also work with her on divisional growth plans. Moreover, she will collaborate with publishing director Ali Dougal, and publishers Lucy Pearse and Helen Mackenzie Smith, who continue to lead their respective fiction and colour publishing editorial teams and acquisitions.
“I’m absolutely delighted to join the brilliant S&S team in this new role to accelerate growth across the children’s list,” Grosart said. “I cannot wait to work with Rachel and the publishing teams to find new opportunities for their phenomenal brands and backlist, as well as seeking out new opportunities for future publishing. It’s a very exciting time to join and I’m thrilled to be part of their next chapter.”
Meanwhile, Bonser will head a new marketing unit focussed on building consumer engagement and sales for a selection of S&Ss brands, including A F Steadman’s Skandar, Supertato by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, and Lauren Roberts’ Powerless series. She will also oversee the marketing strategy and campaigns for Gallery lists.
Bonser has led campaigns for Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (Bloomsbury Children’s Books), and Feminists Don’t Wear Pink by Scarlett Curtis (Penguin). She will report to deputy managing director Laura Hough, and will work alongside marketing and PR director Sarah Macmillan, who will continue to lead marketing for the core S&S Children’s list, as well as the PR function, corporate communications, and partnerships with literacy organisations and charities.
“I’m thrilled to join S&S Children’s at a time of such exceptional growth and look forward to supercharging the brand strategies for their incredible market-leading authors and illustrators,” Bonser commented. “I’m particularly excited to join Gallery Kids and YA in its launch year, working alongside the talented team to create future bestsellers: reflecting the imprints’ focus on industry-first innovation, maximising trends and reaching every young reader.”
Denwood added: “The ongoing investment in Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, and our rapid growth, have led to this exciting opportunity to attract industry-leading talents Alesha Bonser and Louise Grosart to our phenomenal in-house team. I am excited for Alesha to bring her marketing magic and sparkling creativity to S&S, and we will benefit from her ambitious approach to growing audiences. And in Louise Grosart we welcome an exceptional talent to the team.”
