Press Release
Hachette Livre UK announces launch of Indian company01/08/2007
Hachette Livre UK (‘HLUK’) is delighted to announce the formation of Hachette Book Publishing India.
Established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of HLUK and based in New Delhi, the new business will begin operations during the first quarter of 2008 and until that point there will be no changes to current selling arrangements in India. The new venture which will be led by Thomas Abraham, more details of whose appointment are being made separately, will in the first phase of development initially concentrate on sales, marketing and publicity for the Hachette Livre UK trade divisions and the USA lists. Plans to begin a local publishing operation will follow when the first phase is well under way, probably at the beginning of 2009.
The Indian operation will report to Richard Kitson, Group Commercial Director, Hachette Livre UK. The board of Hachette Book Group India will include Thomas Abraham, Tim Hely Hutchinson, Pierre de Cacqueray, Peter Roche and Richard Kitson.
Hachette Livre is the third largest publisher in the world and the formation of an Indian subsidiary further underlines Hachette Livre’s mission to establish leading market positions and centres of publishing excellence in every market in the world where English, French and Spanish languages are extensively used.
Tim Hely Hutchinson, CEO of Hachette Livre UK, commented: “We are grateful to all those who have built our business in consumer and educational books in India to their present substantial levels. We shall continue to work in various ways with many of our existing customers and contacts. Our announcement today reflects our extended commitment to the Indian market, where we are intending that, by increasing our service and investment levels, we can increase sales of our authors’ books to the mutual advantage of all concerned. I am delighted that Hachette Book Publishing India will be led by Thomas Abraham.”
Arnaud Nourry, Président Directeur Général of Hachette Livre SA, commented: “India represents a significant opportunity for our group and I am delighted that Hachette Livre’s growth in English language publishing has now reached a stage where we can open a substantial business in this country, where so many positive developments are happening. We look forward to serving our Indian customers and, eventually, our Indian authors, to the high standards we strive to achieve in every market in which we operate.”
Hachette Livre UK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hachette Livre SA which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lagardère SCA, one of France’s leading public companies.