Robin Hyman, former chairman of Laurence King Publishing and former president of the Publishers Association, died January 12, the Bookseller reported. He began his career at Evans Brothers, where he worked for 22 years, rising to the post of managing director in 1972. He became chairman at Bell & Hyman in 1977. When the company merged with Allen & Unwin to become Unwin Hyman in 1986, he was managing director until 1988, after which he became chairman and chief executive. Between 1991 and 2004, Hyman was chairman at Laurence King. He also served in several executive positions at the PA, including as president from 1989 to 1991.
Calling Hyman a "publisher through and through," PA council member Richard Charkin said: "He loved books. He loved gossip. He understood the importance of commerce as well as culture. And he was always generous, not least with the time and effort he put into the Publishers Association. We shall miss him deeply."
Laurence King, managing director of Laurence King Publishing, noted that Hyman "devoted his whole life to publishing, and was very knowledgeable about it as a business. I was incredibly lucky have him as the first chairman of Laurence King Publishing. I owe him a great deal and will greatly miss him."