Stephanie Jackson has been tapped to lead the Life segment, including the recently announced imprint DK Red, at DK, effective November 1.
DK Life, one of the three divisions that make up the newly renamed adult division DK Living, publishes books in the health and wellbeing, food and drink, personal development, practical crafts and hobbies, and gardening spaces. It also maintains a longstanding publishing arrangement with the Royal Horticultural Society. DK Living is overseen by managing director Liz Gough, to whom Jackson will report.
“Stephanie has a brilliant track record of producing award-winning bestsellers across lifestyle in the UK and internationally, and she is a perfect fit to lead our talented team as we pursue our ambitious goals for our core Life and DK RED lists,” said Gough in a statement. “She is renowned for her leadership and her ability to publish dynamic, beautiful and inspirational books by important and leading voices in their fields, and I couldn’t be more excited to have her on board, especially at such an exciting time for DK.”
Jackson returns to DK, where she worked earlier in her career, from Octopus Publishing Group, a prominent U.K.-based publisher of nonfiction. There, she most recently led the Aster, Gaia, Godsfield, and Hamlyn imprints. Jackson also serves on the board of the Abergavenny Food Festival, as a judge for the Gaia’s Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers, and a mentor for the organization Creative Access.
“After nearly 15 years it’s an absolute wrench to be leaving my wonderful authors, colleagues and imprints at Octopus, but I couldn’t resist the chance to come full circle and play my part in the commercial and creative transformation of DK,” said Jackson, in a statement. “Leading the Life division, with its amazing authors, incredible team, exceptional publishing, enormous potential and revolutionary new imprint DK RED, is an opportunity not to be missed. I can’t wait to begin.”
