#128: David Shelley, CEO, Hachette UK

Simon speaks with David Shelley, Group CEO of Hachette UK. After studying English at university, David entered the publishing industry in the 1990s as an editorial assistant at Allison & Busby. David rose through the ranks to become publishing director there at the age of just 23, and eventually turned the loss-making business into a profitable one, before joining Little, Brown as a crime editor in 2005. Six years later he became publisher at Little, Brown and he has held his current position as Hachette UK group CEO since 2018. We spoke to David about starting his career at an independent publisher, his path to becoming CEO at Hachette, the second-largest trade publisher in the world, and attempts to diversify the publishing industry.

This episode of Always Take Notes is sponsored by Curtis Brown Creative. Go to www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk to find out more about their creative writing courses. Use code ATN20 for £20 off the full price of any four- or six-week online course.

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