Macmillan has appointed Darryll Colthrust to the newly created-role of chief technology officer. Colthrust will join the company April 7 and report directly to CEO Jon Yaged and serve on Macmillan’s executive team.
According to the Macmillan announcement, Colthrust has more than 20 years of experience working in the digital and technology fields in the publishing, finance, retail, local government, and real estate sectors. He is currently cofounder and co-CEO of tech company Chaptr, which is backed by Macmillan parent company Holtzbrinck.
Chaptr has developed three AI-driven services for publishers: Reedy, which aims to improve metadata; Essence, which is designed to “help publishing teams understand and assess manuscripts more efficiently,” according to the company; and Amplify, a forthcoming service designed to “to generate visual marketing assets from existing book covers and metadata.”
At Macmillan, Colthrust will work across the company “to advance data and technology transformation, AI integration, and process improvements,” per the announcement. The company’s stressed that “elevating the technology function to the executive level underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and long-term growth.”
“Technology is central to how we serve our authors, employees, and partners, and how we compete and grow in a rapidly evolving marketplace,” said Yaged in a statement. “Darryll brings deep expertise, strategic vision, and a collaborative leadership style that aligns perfectly with our values. He understands that technology must empower people and enhance creativity, not replace it.”
When he moves to Macmillan, Colthrust will continue to serve as AI board advisor to Holtzbrinck and as co-CEO of Chaptr in what Macmillan described as “a scaled-back, strategic capacity.”
“It’s an honor to step into this role at such a pivotal moment in our industry and work alongside so many talented people,” said Colthrust. “I’m excited to lead Macmillan’s efforts in using the power of technology and innovation to support our authors, deepen our connection with readers, and shape the future of publishing in ways that amplify human creativity.”
With his arrival at Macmillan, Kaustubh Kamat, SVP of technology, and Rob Guttman, SVP of platform development, will report to Colthrust. The existing reporting structure within the technology organization will remain unchanged.
