Australia-based Hardie Grant Publishing has appointed Jenny Wapner publisher of its North American operations. In the newly-created role, Wapner will oversee Hardie Grant’s expansion in the U.S. and Canada.
Currently, Hardie Grant publishes 200 books and gift items a year in the U.S., with most originating in its Australia and U.K. offices. Under Wapner, a Hardie Grant spokesperson said, the company will publish 10 to 12 U.S. titles a season by the end of 2022. Wapner will be based in San Francisco, home to Hardie Grant’s North America marketing team, and is expected to hire additional staff in editorial, design, and marketing roles in the next 12 months.
“We are thrilled that Jenny will bring her publishing expertise and deep understanding of the U.S. market to this new role,” said Julie Pinkham, Hardie Grant managing director, in a statement.
Wapner has been in publishing for 20 years, working on titles in the cooking, design, photography, natural science, and lifestyle categories. Prior to moving to Hardie Grant, she had been executive editor at Ten Speed Press.
“The opportunity to expand [Hardie Grant’s] publishing into the United States is both thrilling and an absolute honor,” said Wapner. “As an independent publisher with a stellar reputation, I feel that this is an exciting and needed addition to the American publishing landscape.”
Last month, Hardie Grant insiders bought back all of the shares held in the company by Associated Media Investments, leaving the publishing team in full control of the publisher.
