‘Harry Potter’ publisher Bloomsbury’s founder Nigel Newton plots CEO handover after 40 years

Nigel Newton. File | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Bloomsbury Publishing is turning ​the page on a new chapter, unveiling plans on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) for ‌founder Nigel Newton to hand over within two ​years the chief executive role he has held ⁠at the “Harry Potter” publisher for four decades.Also read | Harry Potter: first global superhero of the 21st centuryMr. Newton, 71, is one of Britain’s longest-serving chief executives. San Francisco-born and Cambridge-educated, he left publisher Sidgwick & Jackson ‌to start Bloomsbury in 1986 with three other founders, floating it on the London Stock Exchange in ‌1994 and building it into a global publishing ‌success.One ⁠of his defining achievements was acquiring the rights ⁠to J.K. Rowling’s first “Harry Potter” book after rejections from several publishers, a decision that propelled Bloomsbury into becoming one of the U.K.’s best-known publishing houses.The ​series, which became a ‌global bestseller, has launched multi-billion-dollar franchises including blockbuster movies and a new HBO series.The publisher has also backed Sarah Maas, the bestselling author of the “A Court of Thorns and ‌Roses” series and a leading name in the fast-growing “romantasy” ​genre.“BLOOMSBURY IN ITS NEW ERA”Under the five-year succession plan, Mr. Newton will oversee the appointment of his ⁠successor and remain executive chairman for the first three years of their tenure before becoming non-executive chairman in 2031.“The publishing world ‌is a very different place than it was even 15 years ago, and while Newton’s success cannot be denied, there has to be room for a CEO who can help drive Bloomsbury in its new era as a much more diversified operation,” said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst ‌at IG Group.The change comes as Bloomsbury navigates an AI-led digital expansion, ​having struck strategic partnerships with companies including Google and moving into academic and professional publishing.As part of ⁠the succession plan, Chairman John Bason will become deputy chairman and ⁠senior independent director, and lead the search for a new CEO.Mr. Bason said the transition showed the board ‌was addressing succession planning and that Mr. Newton’s continued leadership would help ensure Bloomsbury remains a leading independent publisher. Published - September 08, 2026 08:09 pm IST