Chiki Sarkar, recently named as one of World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders, was today appointed as Publisher of Penguin Random House India with overall responsibility for building the local publishing programme in both English and local languages.
Penguin Random House India CEO Gaurav Shrinagesh announced the company's new publishing, sales and marketing leadership appointments and cross-company organisational structure which will be effective from April 1.
Penguin Random House India is a division of Penguin Random House, which was established on July 1, 2013 with the merger of Penguin and Random House.
Sarkar, currently Publisher at Penguin Books India, has been instrumental in publishing many of the sub-continent's finest writers including Amitav Ghosh, Arundhati Roy, Vikram Seth, Vikram Chandra, and Amit Chaudhuri and has launched the careers of some of the best new talent such as Mohammed Hanif, Basharat Peer and Daniyal Mueenuddin.
Random House India's first editor-in-chief in 2006, Sarkar had moved to Penguin Books India in 2011.
Milee Ashwarya and Meru Gokhale have both been appointed as Publishing Directors. While Gokhale will be responsible for Vintage India, Allen Lane, Hamish Hamilton, Viking and Classics publishing lists, Ashwarya will oversee Ebury India, Random Business, Portfolio, Metro Reads, Shobhaa De Books and Penguin Ananda.
Bringing focus to its children's list, Hemali Sodhi will be taking on the newly created role of Director, Children's for Penguin Random House India.
Hemali, till now Vice President Marketing and Communications, Penguin Books India, will look into the children's local publishing program as well as the international list for the Indian market, along with product and brand development for children.
Caroline Newbury, currently VP Marketing and Publicity Random House India, will take on the role of VP, Marketing and Corporate Communications for Penguin Random House India and will oversee all marketing, publicity, digital and corporate communications functions for the company.
