(Reuters) – Britain’s Bloomsbury Publishing named Guardian Media Group’s Keith Underwood as its finance and operating chief on Thursday, amid the book publisher’s efforts to navigate an artificial intelligence-led digital expansion drive.
Underwood, 49, is currently the chief financial officer and chief operating officer at the publisher of The Guardian newspaper, and has previously worked at media groups including Channel 4, Discovery Networks International, Sky, and accounting giant PwC.
He is set to assume office as Bloomsbury’s CFO and COO in early February next year, and will also join its board. He takes over from long-time finance director Penny Scott-Bayfield.
Underwood’s “remarkable track record in leadership and innovation will be invaluable as we continue to grow globally and digitally”, CEO Nigel Newton said in a statement.
The “Harry Potter” books’ publisher has seen profit soar from demand for ‘romantasy’ titles like the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series. It has also recently expanded into academic books and digital resources.
Berenberg analysts said the appointment was “a positive” and Underwood’s expertise would help in improving efficiency and in securing content licensing deals.
(Reporting by Nithyashree R B and Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Rashmi Aich)
