The London Book Fair (LBF) has announced the appointment of Emma Lowe as its new Director, succeeding Adam Ridgway, who is retiring following a 36-year career in conferences and exhibitions. Lowe will assume the role in July 2025, while Gareth Rapley, the Interim Portfolio Director for LBF at RX, will oversee the event until her official transition.
Lowe brings over two decades of experience in the book industry, having previously served as Head of Sales at RX, where she worked on The London Book Fair before moving on to The Bookseller as Commercial Director from 2014 to 2023. She later held roles at GlassBoxx as Publishing Account Director and most recently at HarperCollins, where she served as Head of Events. In her previous position, she was responsible for organizing corporate events, industry engagements, and major book fairs, including The London Book Fair and the Frankfurt Book Fair, in addition to planning high-profile author and industry gatherings.
During her tenure at The Bookseller, Lowe led key publishing industry events, including the British Book Awards, FutureBook, and the Marketing & Publicity Conference, while also working closely with LBF through a media partnership. At GlassBoxx, she contributed to expanding e-commerce solutions for the publishing sector.
Lowe emphasized the importance of in-person events in the publishing sector, describing The London Book Fair as a vital forum for industry engagement. Reflecting on her career trajectory, she highlighted her experiences at The Bookseller, a technology-driven publishing services provider, and a major international publisher, stating that her return to LBF aligns with her commitment to fostering collaboration within the book industry.
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