Sophie Cottrell, who has been senior v-p, corporate communications, at Hachette Book Group for 16 years and has worked for a total of 22 years at HBG, is leaving the company at the end of August. In her place, Gabrielle Gambrell will join Hachette as the new senior v-p, communications, and be a member of the executive management board.
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| Gabrielle Gambrell | |
Gambrell, who starts August 19, comes to Hachette from Amazon, where she has been head of communications, inclusive experiences & technology, employee experience since 2021. Before that, she was chief marketing and brand officer at Barnard College and has held senior roles at CBS and NBCUniversal, and is an adjunct professor at New York University and Columbia. In a memo to staff, Hachette CEO David Shelley said Gambrell has "broad experience leading PR strategy, internal and external engagement, DEI initiatives, and executive communications."
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| Sophie Cottrell | |
Shelley also thanked Cottrell, saying that "Sophie's role as HBG navigated the pandemic, six company acquisitions, and many other significant developments, cannot be overstated. It's a high pressure job that is not for the faint of heart, and Sophie has brought energy, intelligence, and impact to the work. Sophie's discretion, unflappability, professionalism, and the respect and trust she has earned with HBG leadership, in our industry and with the media, are all to HBG's advantage, and key to our success.
"In addition to leading internal and external communications, Sophie has overseen HBG's sustainability efforts and our charitable giving. She has directed our corporate partnerships, and has been integrally involved in our DEI focused community partnerships. Sophie has played an important role in the relaunch of Hachette Speakers Bureau, has been HSB's proudest champion and helped guide its strategic growth. She formed the publicity-communications group and acts as a trusted sounding board for our publicity teams on major announcements as well as mitigating risk in complex PR issues."
Cottrell commented: "I've loved my time at HBG and the cherished friendships and industry relationships I've built over the years, and I'm very proud of the work we've accomplished together. After 35 years in publishing, I'm excited to take this opportunity to step back, experience life beyond the demands of work, and explore new possibilities for my future."