Who Is Joanna Prior? Pan Macmillan UK's New Chief Executive Officer

Who is Joanna Prior : She has been named as the Chief Executive Officer of Pan Macmillan UK. She will be succeeding Anthony Forbes Watson after he steps down from the role early next year.

Here's what you need to know about Joanna Prior

1. She has been Managing Director of Penguin General Books at Penguin Random House UK for the last twelve years.
2. She was responsible for leading the strategic growth of this award-winning publishing house.
3. During her tenure, Penguin General achieved many milestones. For instance, it doubled in size, added new imprints, won Publisher of the Year in 2019, won the Women’s Prize for Fiction twice and the Booker Prize for Bernardine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other. It was also responsible for a wide range of successful publications including Mrs Obama’s Becoming and President Obama’s A Promised Land.
4. Besides her role at Penguin General, she has also been the President of the Publishers Association.
5. At present, she is the Chair of the Women’s Prize Trust and Vice-Chair of the National Literacy Trust.
6. Joanna said in a press statement, “I have spent twenty-three incredibly happy years at Penguin, first in publicity and marketing roles and for the last twelve leading the remarkable team at Penguin General.  The decision to leave was not an easy one but Pan Macmillan is a company I’ve always admired; it is in fact where I had my first permanent job in publishing.  The offer to lead a business of this size and reputation, with a commitment to publishing the very best books of all kinds is something that was irresistible.  We have all seen just how important books are to culture and society over the last difficult year and a half and I’m honoured to take up this role to lead Pan Macmillan in the next phase of its growth and success.”

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