Gabrielle Gambrell has been named to succeed Sophie Cottrell as SVP of communications at Hachette Book Group, effective August 19. Cottrell, who has spent 16 years in the role and 22 years at HBG, will leave the company at the end of August to "take a pause and spend some well-deserved downtime to think about what she might like to do next," said HBG CEO David Shelley in an announcement.
Gambrell comes to HBG from Amazon, where she has been head of communications, inclusive experiences and technology, and employee experience since 2021. Prior to Amazon, she was chief marketing and brand officer at Barnard College and also held senior roles at CBS and NBCUniversal. Gambrell will join the executive management board and report to Shelley.
In addition to leading internal and external communications, Cottrell has overseen HBG's sustainability efforts and charitable giving. She has also directed corporate partnerships, helped relaunch the Hachette Speakers Bureau, and formed the company's publicity-communications group.
"Sophie’s role as HBG navigated the pandemic, six company acquisitions, and many other significant developments, cannot be overstated," said Shelley. "It’s a high pressure job that is not for the faint of heart, and Sophie has brought energy, intelligence, and impact to the work. Sophie’s discretion, unflappability, professionalism, and the respect and trust she has earned with HBG leadership, in our industry and with the media, are all to HBG’s advantage, and key to our success."
In a statement, Cottrell said: “I’ve loved my time at HBG and the cherished friendships and industry relationships I’ve built over the years, and I’m very proud of the work we’ve accomplished together." She added: "After 35 years in publishing, I’m excited to take this opportunity to step back, experience life beyond the demands of work, and explore new possibilities for my future."
