Hachette Livre updates its international governance structure to boost global growth

• David Shelley, CEO of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group, is appointed Global Advisor to Hachette Livre’s Executive Management and becomes Executive Chair of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group.

• Philippe Lamotte, Executive Director of the Operations, Digital and Business Development Division at Hachette Livre, joins the International Executive Committee (COMEXI).

Building on more than 200 years of history and a balanced, diverse presence across the world, Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest publishing group, continues to grow internationally and aims to strengthen connections and coordination across its various markets.

In line with these goals, David Shelley, currently CEO of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group, will take on the role of Global Advisor to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Arnaud Lagardère and Deputy Chief Executive Officer Jean-Christophe Thiery, effective January 1, 2027.

David Shelley will work to guide the Group’s development of new markets and global digital offerings, expand international synergies, and oversee mergers and acquisitions. He will also serve as Executive Chair of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group.

As part of this new organization, Katie Espiner has been appointed CEO of Hachette UK and Ben Sevier CEO of Hachette Book Group.

Arnaud Lagardère, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hachette Livre, said: “We are delighted to work even more closely with David in his new roles. Bolstered by the exceptional success of our English-language divisions in recent years, we are counting on his key role to expand international collaboration across the Group, share our expertise, and develop new synergies that help achieve our ambitions for growth.”

In addition, Philippe Lamotte, Executive Director of the Operations, Digital and Business Development Division (BO2DC), has been named to Hachette Livre’s International Executive Committee (COMEXI) effective January 1, 2027, in recognition of his global responsibility for IT and his expertise in distribution and operations.

Jean-Christophe Thiery, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hachette Livre, added: “Our new governance structure reflects our commitment to bringing together our talent on an international scale and sharing our best practices. The addition of Philippe Lamotte to the COMEXI, where he will draw on his experience in information systems and operations, will boost our agility and help our businesses evolve sustainably.”

Hachette Livre is a subsidiary of Lagardère SA and the world’s third-largest mainstream publishing group (trade and educational). With revenue of €3,001 million in 2025, it is the market leader in France, number two in the UK, third in Spain, and third in the US (in trade publishing). The Group comprises over 200 imprints which together publish around 15,000 new titles each year in a dozen languages (mainly French, English and Spanish). Hachette Livre covers all segments of the mainstream publishing market: general fiction, nonfiction, paperbacks, children’s and YA books, illustrated books, travel guides, textbooks, study guides and partworks.
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