Hardie Grant’s Chief Executive Officer, Sandy Grant, announces Hardie Grant Publishing Group Managing Director Julie Pinkham has resolved that it is time for her to make way for generational change by moving on from her role as Group Managing Director Hardie Grant Publishing (HGP), to a non-executive, advisory position. This news marks one of the most significant changes in Hardie Grant’s 27-year history.
Julie and I worked together at Reed Books Australia for almost a decade before we established Hardie Grant Books (HGB). In that time her drive and talent were obvious, but the winning factor as ever with Julie is her amazing knowledge about the book business. She started as a bookseller, has been a sales rep, product manager, marketing manager, sales and marketing manager, Managing Director, Group Managing Director and always a publisher. She had a mother who was a librarian – books are in her veins.
At Hardie Grant Publishing Julie has been the single most influential character in its 27 years. She now stands as an industry giant – Vice President of the Australian Publishers Association, a director of the prestigious Wheeler Centre, winner of the George Robertson award, Chair of the Industry Advisory Board to RMIT (Masters in Writing and Publishing course) and our Group Managing Director.
A voracious, intelligent reader who devours cultural, literary and political life, Julie has been endlessly invaluable for Hardie Grant as we entered different subject areas to build a broad engaging publishing programme. When HGB launched it was Julie who led the publishing, and the introduction of authors. such as Greg & Lucy Malouf and thier book Arabesque, were seminal. It was the start of HGB’s celebrated food publishing.
Julie collaborated to bring Ultimo Press to life, launched Hardie Grant UK and then Hardie Grant North America. It was her insight that took us into the US in partnership with Chronicle Books. More recently she has guided the Intrepid and Australian Geographic relationships.
The way she engages effortlessly with those around her, the way she tackles any job and ensures it is done to the highest standard and her warm, generous spirit make her an amazing colleague. And then her industry knowledge, her sharp sceptical mind, her ability to speak her mind make her a brilliant publishing colleague. She is a leader, a mentor, a colleague and friend.
Hardie Grant will shortly announce a succession plan. Julie will depart from her role at the end of 2024.
Sandy Grant
Chief Executive
Hardie Grant