CP/2/4/5 - Alan Hill: retirement from the Heinemann Group; his succession as Managing Director; and his consultancy to the Heinemann Group

CP/2/4/5

Sub file

Alan Hill: retirement from the Heinemann Group; his succession as Managing Director; and his consultancy to the Heinemann Group

1979-1993

75 items Mixed

Hill, Alan, 1912-1993

This file contains papers relating to the 1979 retirement of Alan Hill as Heinemann’s Group Managing Director; the search for his successor; changes to the Group’s board and boards of various subsidiary companies; his consultancy contract with the Heinemann Group in February 1980 and his attempt for an early break from this contract in October 1980.

There is some overlap with CP/2/4/7.

Includes personal statements from Hill and proposals for management restructuring within the Heinemann Group. Hill describes CP in a note on candidates for the Heinemann Group management succession: “Charles Pick is rather unique. He is highly successful in a highly individualistic way. As a corollary to this, his extremely personalised style does not leave much room for creative men of stature underneath him ...”. Another letter from Hill to Douglas Manser (Chairman of the Heinemann Group) comments on Tom Rosenthal’s attitude towards the possibility of becoming Managing Director of the Group and of William Heinemann Ltd (15.6.79).

Also includes:

Decisions and action points from the Thomas Tilling Group, as well as meeting notes.

Hill’s proposed terms for his consultancy to the Heinemann Group as well as his role as Chairman to Heinemann Educational Books (Nigeria) Ltd (9.8.79). Letters also relate to taxation.

Organisational charts for the Group and its companies.

A letter on the changes in the constitution of the boards of Heinemann and Zsolnay Ltd, William Heinemann Ltd and Peter Davies Ltd (15.10.79).

Signed consultancy agreement between the Heinemann Group of Publishers Ltd and Alan Hill, (18.2.80). Letters concerning Hill’s wish to break with the contract and to accept an offer from William Collins & Sons Ltd in October 1980. Includes lawyer’s letters.

Later papers include an article on Hill’s memoir Publishing News, 1986; an article on Hill which also mentions his working relationship with CP Publishing News, 1988; and an obituary (1993).