Ana Maria Allessi Promoted to President and Publisher of Hachette Audio
Kim Sayle Promoted to Senior Vice President and Deputy Publisher of Hachette Audio
NEW YORK (December 18, 2024) — Hachette Book Group (HBG) Deputy CEO Richard Kitson announced the promotion of Ana Maria Allessi today to President and Publisher of Hachette Audio effective January 2, 2025. In this new elevated role, Allessi will continue to lead the company’s audio, recording, and digital content publishing efforts, including marketing to current and new consumers, as well as audio distribution strategies for the best-in-class audiobooks across all of HBG’s growing imprints.
“Under Ana Maria’s dynamic leadership, HBG has delivered another record-breaking year of audio sales,” said Kitson. “She delivers day in, day out and is focused on driving innovation and growth. She has a brilliant team working with her who constantly aim to deliver our mission to make it easy for people to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment, and opportunity. I look forward to working closely with her in this new role and her continued contributions to the HBG Executive Management Board and the wider company.”
Allessi joined Hachette Book Group in 2022 with more than two decades of invaluable industry experience, having serving Workman Audio as Vice President and Publisher. Before that she was Vice President and Publisher of HarperAudio and Vice President of Digital Innovation, HarperAudio. Prior to that she was Vice President and Publisher of Harper Media. She was a member of the Board of Directors for the Audio Publisher’s Association for 11 years, serving as President of the Board from 2019 to 2023.
Kim Sayle, who has served as Vice President, Associate Publisher since 2019, has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Deputy Publisher of Hachette Audio.
“I have learned so much from Richard and David in the last year,” said Allessi. “I thank them for the opportunity to continue to create great audiobooks and to expand our authors’ audience. I’m excited to carry on working with Kim Sayle, whose talent, generosity, and experience inspires me every day.”
About Hachette Book Group
Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading US general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group, Grand Central Publishing Group, Hachette Audio, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, and Workman Running Press Group. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to other publishing companies. Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Peace Prize and other major honors. We are committed to diversity in our company and our publishing programs, and to fostering a culture of inclusion for all our employees and authors. We are proud to be part of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest trade and educational publisher. Visit hachettebookgroup.com to learn more about HBG imprints. For updated news follow HBG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X.com, and YouTube.
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Press Contact: Gabrielle Gambrell Gabrielle.Gambrell@hbgusa.com