Within Egmont Group worldwide, the company has formed Egmont Publishing, which combines Egmont Magazines and Egmont Kids Media. Rob McMenemy, former senior v-p Egmont English language and Western Europe and head of the U.K. business, has become CEO, international. His responsiblities will include all international territories that comprised the former Egmont Kids Media, excluding the Nordic countries.

McMenemy said: "We are Europe's largest children's publisher and a vibrant and exciting business focused on providing great content. I am looking forward to working with our partners and to building on the heritage and success of Kids Media."

Frank Knau, former president, Egmont Kids Media and Egmont executive v-p, has chosen to focus on charity and board work. He will continue to work part-time for Egmont, as well as represent Egmont on several boards round the world.

In the U.K., Egmont is bringing together its fiction and licensed character book businesses - Egmont Press and Egmont Publishing Group, Books - to form a single business called Egmont Books. Cally Poplak, currently managing director of the U.K.'s fiction, classics and picture book business, becomes Egmont Books managing director. In the wake of Rob McMenemy's promotion, she also becomes Egmont U.K. managing director. Her responsibilities will cover the U.K. and U.S.

Gillian Laskier moves from group sales director to become managing director of Egmont Magazines. Laskier has previous experience at BBC Worldwide, where she launched and built the BBC's children's magazines business.

David Riley, managing director of Egmont U.K.'s licensed character business, is leaving the company, but will return in the new year in a consultancy role to work international and U.K. licensing projects.

Alison David, consumer insight director, joins the U.K. management team.

Rob McMenemy said: "This reorganization of the U.K. business comes as part of our commitment to keep the business strong and profitable in a media landscape with fast changing consumer behaviors. Uniting the two books businesses creates many advantages and under the leadership of Cally and the new U.K. management team I am certain that Egmont U.K. will continue to have a very successful future."

Poplak said: "I am looking forward to working with our talented teams and across all of our award-winning book and magazine business in the U.K. I believe we will be an even more successful publisher as one book business that harnesses all our children's book expertise, and that there are exciting collaborations and opportunities to come with a closer relationship between Egmont Magazines and Egmont Books."