Search Press is delighted to announce the promotion of Becky Robbins to Editorial Director and the appointment of Sophie Hallam as Commissioning Editor, marking an exciting new chapter for the company as it continues to strengthen its position as the leading specialist publisher of art and craft books.
Becky has been an integral part of Search Press for many years, most recently serving as Managing Editor. During her time with the company, she has played a pivotal role in delivering an outstanding publishing programme, building strong relationships with authors and contributing significantly to the continued success of the Search Press list. As Editorial Director, Becky will provide leadership for the publishing team and oversee the development of the publishing programme.
Sophie joins Search Press from Templar Books, part of Bonnier Books UK, where she served as Publishing Director, shaping the publishing programme across an acclaimed list of illustrated children's books. At Search Press, Sophie will lead the commissioning strategy, nurturing authors and creative partnerships while developing a publishing programme that celebrates the very best in art, craft and creativity.
Becky will continue to manage the team, and together she and Sophie will assume the responsibilities previously held by Publishing Director Samantha Warrington, combining editorial leadership, commissioning expertise and strategic publishing vision to guide the future growth of the Search Press list.
For more than 55 years, Search Press has been at the forefront of independent publishing, specialising in art and craft books and products, building an international reputation for producing beautifully illustrated, expertly authored books across a wide range of creative disciplines.
Becky Robbins, Editorial Director, said:
"I never take for granted how lucky I am to do a job I truly love. It is a privilege to create books that inspire our readers to explore and enjoy the crafts and hobbies that they love too. I am delighted to be working alongside Sophie as we continue to publish expert voices, champion inspiring new ideas and develop innovative craft products, all while proudly upholding the exceptional quality for which Search Press is so well known and loved. Together with our talented in-house team, we are incredibly excited about the future of our list and what the next few years have in store."
Sophie Hallam, Commissioning Editor, said:
"I'm particularly excited to be joining Search Press at a time when so many people are rediscovering the joy of making. What's so interesting to me is that every craft carries its own history and every maker has a unique story to tell. And that's where art and great publishing intersect. Search Press publishes some of the very best artists and makers in the business, and I'm delighted to be joining a team so committed to creativity and excellence."
Martin de la Bedoyere, Managing Director, said:
"We're delighted to celebrate Becky's promotion to Editorial Director and to welcome Sophie to Search Press. Becky brings exceptional editorial expertise, deep knowledge of our publishing programme and strong relationships across the industry, while Sophie brings a wealth of commissioning experience, creative vision and commercial insight. Together they form a highly complementary team, and we're excited to see the impact they will have as they lead the next phase of growth for Search Press."