LONDON – Independent Publishers Group (IPG) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Andrew Boughton, Chief Operating Officer of United Independent Distributors (UID), and its group companies, Eurospan, Marston Book Services and Orca Book Services, effective 31 March 2023. Boughton succeeds UID’s former COO, Mark Chaloner, who has left the company to pursue other career opportunities.
“Since our acquisition of UID, Andrew has stepped to the forefront, working closely with publishers and overseeing client and customer services,” said Joe Matthews, CEO of IPG. “He has a huge breadth of experience and is extremely knowledgeable, having led Eurospan’s operations team for several years. Andrew is a natural fit for the role, and we are excited to see him in this new position.”
Boughton is a 20-year veteran of UID’s academic and professional marketing division, Eurospan, where he has held several leadership positions in the areas of marketing strategy and operations management, including the title of COO of Eurospan.
Regarding his appointment, Boughton remarked, “I am excited to be given the opportunity to lead and transform the UID businesses into market leaders.”
In a recent letter to publishers, UID also announced the hire of a new warehouse manager at its Biggleswade facility, as well as several strategic initiatives, including software system upgrades and the implementation of a new warehouse management system.
“We are determined to restore quality service and are investing hugely,” said Matthews. “We must execute this year. You can be sure it is the singular goal of IPG globally for 2023.”
About Independent Publishers Group: Founded in 1971, IPG was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. Today, IPG’s wide reach into the book market includes distribution of both print and e-books from a wide array of publishers, digital printing and traditional publishing. With consistent growth year over year, IPG’s success has come from supporting and encouraging the growth of its publishing partners in the United States and worldwide. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987, and this acquisition formed the parent company Chicago Review Press, Inc., which now owns Chicago-based indie publishers Chicago Review Press and Triumph Books. In October 2021, IPG acquired UK-based United Independent Distributors (UID) and its subsidiary companies Eurospan, Marston Book Services and Orca Book Services, extending IPG’s menu of services and global reach.
Contact: Sidney Thompson | Corporate Communications | 312.337.0747 | sthompson@ipgbook.com
