Michael Shoults, most recently COO of Hachette Book Group US Distribution, has been promoted to CEO of the publisher’s distribution arm.
Shoults succeeds Matt Wright, who is taking over as chief financial officer of Hachette UK following the retirement of Pierre de Cacqueray. Shoults will continue to report to Wright in his new role.
“Mike has transformed the levels of service and communication at HBG US Distribution in the past year, and I have no doubt that he will excel equally in his new role of CEO,” Wright said in a statement.
David Shelley, CEO of HBG US and Hachette UK, added, “Mike Shoults has made an enormous impact on our distribution business since he began in 2025.”
In his new position, Shoults will lead HBG’s distribution business for its portfolio of client publishers, including Abrams, Chronicle, Yen Press, Quarto, and Lonely Planet, as well as Stable Distribution.
“I am deeply honored by the trust that David and Matt have placed in me to lead as CEO. I must recognize my outstanding team, whose talent, passion, and seamless partnership have driven our success,” Shoults said.
Prior to joining HBG, Shoults led teams in a host of different arenas and disciplines for more than 20 years, including in the US Army, where, in 2005, he was commissioned as a lieutenant and served eight years. Following an honorable discharge from the military, Shoults joined Amazon, GameStop, and a private equity startup formerly known as Heyday.
