J.K. Rowling’s Agency Expands with Big Hires: Former Disney Exec and Universal Music Alum Join to Lead ‘Harry Potter’ Franchise
The Blair Partnership, the literary agency that has represented J.K. Rowling since 2011, is expanding with two important new hires. Simon Johnson and Kiran Jeffery will take on newly-created roles to help drive the growth of the Harry Potter franchise and the agency’s business.
Simon Johnson is joining as Chief Commercial Officer from Universal Music UK, where he worked as managing director of strategy, growth, and ecommerce. Before that, Johnson had senior roles at Amazon and HarperCollins, focusing on books in Europe. He will be responsible for finding new business opportunities and growth for the agency.
Kiran Jeffery is coming on board as Managing Director of the Harry Potter franchise team. She has spent 25 years at Disney, including leading global marketing and franchise strategies. In her new role, she will manage Harry Potter’s marketing, product development, and publishing efforts, especially with the upcoming HBO series based on the books.
Both Johnson and Jeffery will begin their roles this spring, as the new TV series based on Harry Potter starts production.
Neil Blair, founder of The Blair Partnership, expressed excitement about their appointments: “I am delighted to welcome Simon and Kiran to The Blair Partnership. Their expertise and leadership will be a huge asset to the business and a great addition to our fantastic existing leadership team.” Blair added that Johnson’s commercial skills and Jeffery’s experience with franchises would help the agency grow and connect with new audiences.
Simon Johnson shared his enthusiasm: “I’m delighted to be joining The Blair Partnership this spring. With its diverse and dynamic portfolio of clients and business interests, and Neil’s entrepreneurial spirit, I’m excited about identifying further opportunities to grow and innovate.”
Kiran Jeffery also shared her excitement, saying, “The Harry Potter franchise is a dream opportunity for me. Its global appeal continues to grow, and I’m looking forward to helping shape this exciting next phase of its journey, with a beautiful re-adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s stories for TV in the works.”
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