Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> September 6, 1999

Nigel Newton – Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (bmy.l)

Nigel Newton was born in San Francisco and grew up in America until he came over to England to Cambridge University. He then joined Macmillan in London as a graduate trainee and following that went to Sidgwick & Jackson where he worked for 9 years as Sales Director and Deputy Managing Director. In 1986, he founded Bloomsbury Publishing and is its Chief Executive. The company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1994. It publishes 800 books a year and employs 215 people. In July 2000, Bloomsbury acquired A&C Black, publishers of Whos Who. Bloomsbury authors include JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, Joanna Trollope, John Irving, David Guterson, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Nadine Gordimer and Daniel Goleman. In August 1999, Bloomsbury published The Encarta World English Dictionary in association with Microsoft. It was voted Publisher of the Year in 2000 and 2001 and Company of the Year in 2001. In March 2003, Bloomsbury acquired Berlin Verlag a leading German publishing house. Profile
TWST: Can you please give me a brief overview of Bloomsbury Publishing.

What is your core business and where do you see yourselves today?

Mr. Newton: Our core business is the exploitation of