bluesyemre

• What a difference a year makes. It may be a reflection of the changing nature and dynamism of the times, but The Bookseller 100 2010—our second annual listing of the top movers and shakers in the trade—has quite a different look from last year’s first instalment. Thirty-six new names grace the list. Some of the movement is down to a few of last year’s entrants simply leaving the business. So adieu to publishing stalwarts Helen Fraser and Martin Neild, both of whom retired from top posts. There were personal reasons: Asda’s Steph Bateson has been on maternity leave for most of 2010, for example. Businesses folding created a few further casualties (Borders’ Luke Johnson). There were the inevitable sackings, Waterstone’s Gerry Johnson and Elsevier’s Ian Smith (let go after only eight months as c.e.o.) the most high-­profile. Yet what has caused the reshuffle of the 100 deck is what caused our consternation when compiling our inaugural list: there is too much talent to choose from, it is far too difficult to whittle it down to only 100.

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