The Quarto Group, an independent global publisher of illustrated books, is bringing Andrea Fleck-Nisbet on board as president of its U.S. division, effective November 2. Since 2022, Fleck-Nisbet has been CEO of the Independent Book Publishers Association.

Quarto Group CEO Chuk Kin (CK) Lau has served as interim president since the former U.S. lead, Ken Fund, retired at the end of 2021.

Fleck-Nisbet will directly manage the company’s U.S. team while working in tandem with U.K. managing director Karine Marko. Quarto’s publishing program includes 27 global imprints, with lifestyle brands such as Fair Winds Press and Harvard Common Press; arts and crafts publishers such as Quarry Books and Walter Foster Publishing; and children’s imprint becker&mayer! Kids, among others.

“Andrea's 20 years of experience across publishing, distribution, sales, marketing, and digital strategy make her the right leader to guide us into our next chapter of growth,” Lau said in a statement. “She brings a track record spanning both large and independent publishing environments and a sharp understanding of where our industry is headed, along with the energy, ownership, and fresh thinking to lead our team forward.”

“The value I bring to this role is in understanding the U.S. market from a variety of business perspectives,” Fleck-Nisbet told PW. “I need to shore up Quarto U.S.'s position in the market. How are we making sure that the brands we have are successful and thriving? How are we partnering together with our U.K. colleagues to make sure that we can continue to play as a global actor? it will be a good partnership, I feel confident about that.”

In a sense, Fleck-Nisbet said, joining Quarto is a return to her publishing roots. “I spent 15 years, more than half of my career, at Workman,” she said. “Even though I was at Ingram, Harper, IBPA, and now this, I will always say that Workman gave me a liberal arts education in publishing, and I am so grateful for that, because one of the challenges is understanding holistically how this industry works.”

She looks forward to working with the “amazing acquisitions editors and strong team” at Quarto, while “brand-building and creating a cohesive vision for the future with our U.K. counterparts. We need to elevate the books that we’re publishing and make Quarto a destination. I always look at Dominique Raccah and Sourcebooks as the north star of what a good, strong indie press should be doing, making sure people feel invested in the books that they’re publishing. That’s where I'm hoping to take them.”

Changes ahead for IBPA

Fleck-Nisbet’s last day with IBPA will be October 30. The association already has convened a CEO transition task force, to be led by board chair Renita Bryant. Although the application portal has not yet opened, IBPA has set up a CEO search interest form for potential candidates. The organization will soon post a position description and instructions in IBPA’s website, newsletter, and other channels.

Fleck-Nisbet said she feels “bittersweet” to leave IBPA, yet Quarto’s offer “is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.”

“I’ve loved being able to serve independent publishers, and it's a platform from which you are able to speak truth into the industry,” she continued. “And I’m proud of where IBPA is headed. I know I'm leaving it financially in a good place, and I feel like I’m leaving it in a good place from a branding perspective.”

“Andrea came to IBPA with a publisher's instincts, and she never stopped asking how the association could better serve its members,” board chair Bryant shared with PW in a statement. “Under her leadership, we rebranded the IBPA Book Award, welcomed PubWest and its publisher members into our community, and introduced a new identity that honors IBPA's history. She also forged partnerships that put independent publishers in the rooms where this industry's future gets decided. Andrea and I had the kind of CEO and board chair partnership every organization hopes for. I'm thrilled for her, and I look forward to working with her in her new role at Quarto."