Hachette Book Group has appointed Ben Sevier as its new chief executive, marking a key milestone in the company’s ongoing corporate restructuring. The announcement was made Tuesday alongside several other leadership changes within the major U.S. publishing house.

Sevier, who currently serves as president of Hachette’s largest division, Grand Central, will assume the role at the start of next year. He has been with Grand Central since 2017 and oversees 20 imprints, including as publisher of its flagship imprint. Over nearly three decades in the industry, Sevier has worked with notable authors such as Colleen Hoover, Harlan Coben, William H. McRaven, and journalist Connie Chung.

Following Sevier’s move, Christine Ball, currently publisher of Berkley Books at Penguin Random House, will take over leadership of Grand Central. Meanwhile, David Shelley, the outgoing Hachette Book Group CEO, will step into the role of executive chair for both Hachette Book Group and Hachette UK. Shelley will also serve as global adviser and deputy chief executive of Hachette Livre, the company’s parent organization. Katie Espiner is slated to replace Shelley as chief executive of Hachette UK. Sevier and Espiner will continue reporting to Shelley in his international capacity, which involves oversight of the company’s Spanish-, French- and English-language publishing operations.

Hachette Book Group, recognized as one of the largest publishers in the United States, has reported an 18 percent revenue increase from 2023 to 2025. As the industry contends with rapid changes, the company continues to confront challenges related to artificial intelligence in publishing. Earlier this year, Hachette canceled the release of “Shy Girl” by Mia Ballard amid concerns the novel was produced using AI. Sevier stated that the company will handle future cases involving AI on an individual basis and emphasized the complexity of making broad statements on AI’s role in publishing. Shelley previously noted that while Hachette requests authors disclose any AI usage, the company does not employ detection software, citing a desire to maintain trust in its authors.

Labor relations have also come into focus at Hachette this year, with a union formed by hundreds of employees in July—the largest in American trade book publishing. Sevier offered cautious optimism regarding upcoming negotiations, emphasizing a commitment to fostering a productive relationship that supports both business vitality and employee interests.

The new chief executive also pledged to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives established under Shelley’s leadership, framing them as critical both ethically and to business success. Additionally, Hachette announced plans to expand its global footprint by launching a publishing program in Canada, spearheaded by Sally Kim, president and publisher of Little, Brown.

Reflecting on the evolving publishing landscape, Sevier expressed confidence in the enduring power of books as a medium for storytelling. “In my 30-ish years in publishing, I’ve seen trends wax and wane, and categories grow and shrink,” he said. “When it comes to humans telling stories to each other, we’ve never found a technology as good as the book to do that on a mass scale. And I don’t see that changing.”