HarperCollins UK has appointed two new managing directors to head up its restructured publishing divisions.
Amanda Ridout was named managing director of general books, which combines the trade division, Fourth Estate, Thorsons and children's. Ridout has been managing director of Headline since 1996 and she will start at HC in December. Adrian Bourne will continue as trade managing director until his retirement in six months.
Thomas Webster will take on the role of MD of HC in September. Webster is currently publishing director at Oxford University Press trade and reference, where he was also responsible for CD-ROM, online and joint software projects. He will bring his expertise to the cartographic, dictionary, education and reference divisions of HarperCollins.
These appointments continue CEO Victoria Barnsley's restructuring strategy, her aim being to separate the information businesses from the trade businesses and "to bring more focus to our publishing."
