Tina McIntyre will assume the role of interim head of publishing and marketing at Wattpad Webtoon Studios, following the departure of senior v-p and managing director of global publishing Ashleigh Gardner. McIntyre currently heads up marketing for Wattpad Webtoon, and will step into the role when Gardner steps down at the end of May.
McIntyre joined the former Wattpad Studios in 2020 as interim head of publishing, supporting sales and editorial direction for Wattpad Books. After the merger of Wattpad and Webtoon created Wattpad Webtoon Studios and the Wattpad Webtoon Book Group, McIntyre was elevated to v-p of marketing for both the studio’s entertainment and publishing divisions. She previously held senior roles at Hachette Book Group and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, where she spearheaded marketing efforts for the Twilight Saga franchise.
Gardner will step away from her role as senior v-p and managing director of global publishing after a decade with Wattpad, marking the end of an era for the company. Gardner joined Wattpad in 2013 as head of content, establishing Wattpad’s early publishing partnerships. She was then named head of partnerships for Wattpad Studios when the new division launched in 2016, and later deputy general manager of publishing for Wattpad Studios in 2018.
After building a global partner publishing program for Wattpad, Gardner then built Wattpad’s first direct publishing business with Wattpad Books in 2019. Since that time, Gardner has grown the company’s publishing business to six imprints under the Wattpad Webtoon Book Group, including the adult imprint W by Wattpad Books and the Webtoon Unscrolled graphic novel imprint.
“My work with Wattpad and Wattpad Webtoon Studios has been a true joy,” said Gardner in a statement. “Innovation in publishing, supporting diverse authors, and bringing their stories to audiences around the world has always been my passion. I’ve been able to do all of this at Wattpad Webtoon Studios, working alongside incredible new voices and content formats that are the future of publishing and entertainment."
