Ian Hudson, who held two high-ranking posts at Penguin Random House, has been named CEO of the company’s DK Publishing subsidiary. Hudson is succeeding John Duhigg, and will take on his new role July 1.
The announcement was made in a memo sent to PRH’s worldwide employees by CEO Markus Dohle. In the memo, Dohle noted that “DK will continue to be a major, singular, independent publishing division within the Penguin Random House family worldwide.” In April, reports surfaced in the U.K. media that PRH was considering selling DK (formally known as Dorling Kindersley).
Duhigg has led DK for more than four years and was credited by Dohle for enhancing the subsidiary's brand and for “strategically expand[ing] the company’s portfolio globally into children’s and educational publishing programs, and with key brand licensors.”
A veteran international publisher, Hudson was most recently CEO, international (English language), Penguin Random House, and deputy CEO, Penguin Random House UK. Hudson will continue to be based in London and report to Dohle.
In summarizing Hudson's impact at RH UK and PRH, Dohle said that he has delivered “business growth, profit improvement, operational excellence, and consumer orientation,” as well as developing “talented teams.”
With Hudson’s promotion, PRH will make executive reporting changes on the international side and in its U.K. business. In the international market, executives that had reported to Hudson will now report to Dohle. They include Julie Burland, CEO, Penguin Random House Australia and New Zealand; Steve Connolly, managing director, Penguin Random House South Africa; Jo Lusby, managing director, Penguin Random House North Asia; and Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO, Penguin Random House India.
