Macmillan Business

  • Meet the Team

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      Mike Harpley

      Publisher

      I lead our new Macmillan Business imprint and also publish broadly across Pan Non-fiction. 

      In Macmillan Business, I am seeking expert thinkers at the top of their field and trusted voices who command large audiences. The books can be narrative or more prescriptive, but what matters is that they are exciting, smart, important and genuinely useful. My authors on the list include Bent Flyvbjerg, world expert on project management; Melonie Parker, Chief Diversity Officer at Google; and Matt Abrahams, host of the hit global podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart.

      In the Pan non-fiction list, I am drawn to thought-leaders and engaging titles that present new ideas about the world around us, irrespective of subject matter. I am also a sucker for a good story, including by leading figures in sport. Some of my authors, past and present include: Jacinda Ardern, Angela Merkel, Robin Ince, Isabel Hardman, John Kampfner, Chris Kamara, Martin O’Neill, Nicola Sturgeon, Alice Loxton and Mensun Bound. 

      I love working closely with authors to develop their ideas into books and publishing bestsellers with both prominent names and debut authors who have something vital to say.

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      Kate Walsh

      Senior Commissioning Editor

      I joined Pan Macmillan in April 2025 as a Senior Commissioning Editor, working across our general non-fiction publishing with a particular focus on the Macmillan Business list.

      For the Business list, I’m looking for books that equip, challenge and inspire – from practical guides by trusted voices to narrative-led explorations of the systems, people and power structures shaping the world. I’m especially drawn to fresh takes on universal topics, whether through an unexpected lens or a voice we haven’t heard enough from. Alongside acquiring, I’m also developing ideas in-house, always seeking smart, accessible ways to reach readers who are curious about how things work and how they could work better.

      Before joining Pan, I was a literary agent at United Agents, working across a spectrum of commercial non-fiction. My list was broad, but always guided by strong ideas and clear purpose. I was fortunate to work on bestselling and high-profile projects including Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Professor Stephen Hawking, A Life on Our Planet by Sir David Attenborough, This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes, Fluid by Harris Reed and Scream Queen by Yvette Fielding. My general non-fiction tastes are varied, but commercially-driven.

      Across both Business and general non-fiction, I’m drawn to narratively driven, human-centred books with a wide commercial reach – the kind of stories that stay with readers long after they’ve finished the book.

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      Ríbh Brownlee

      Editor

      I am an Editor working across the general non-fiction and Macmillan Business list. My focus is on building a list of conversation-starting, bestselling titles that combine exceptional writing with a profound ability to enhance the reader's understanding of the world.  non-fiction for Pan Macmillan’s Pan Non-Fiction and Macmillan Business imprints.

      My commissioning interests are broad. In general non-fiction, I look for history, popular science, current affairs, compelling memoirs, nature and ambitious, big ideas books. For the Macmillan Business list, I seek narrative-led titles that offer fresh insights into the professional world. 

      Recent titles I've been fortunate to publish include The Eyes of Gaza by Plestia Alaqad, Why Nobody Understands Quantum Physics by Frank Verstraete and Céline Broeckaert, The Ten Toughest Leadership Problems by Katie Best and Ghost Nation by Chris Horton. Books I have worked on have been Sunday Times bestellers, Waterstones Book of the Month, Blackwell's Book of the Year and Nero Prize winners. They have also been named Books of the Year by the New York Times, New Scientist, The Economist, Time, Cosmopolitan, Financial Times, The Spectator and more.

      I am particularly committed to diversifying the non-fiction landscape, with a focus on feminism and underrepresented voices. I thrive on nurturing debut talent – guiding authors from the initial spark of an idea to a powerful, market-ready book.

      In addition to my own acquisitions, I have collaborated with Mike Harpley on titles with authors including Sarah Wynn-Williams, Jacinda Ardern, Nicola Sturgeon and Alice Loxton.

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      Neeharika Nene

      Editorial Assistant

      I joined Pan Macmillan in 2025 and I assist across our Pan Non-fiction and Macmillan Business lists. I've been lucky enough to work with Mike Harpley, Kate Walsh and Ríbh Brownlee on their incredible authors, including Nicola Sturgeon, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Alice Loxton and Robin Ince. 

      I'm drawn to a broad range of books, from inspiring memoirs and practical self-help guides to thrilling narrative non-fiction. Whether I'm reading for work or on holiday, I'm excited by anything that tries to transform how we engage with the world around us, with a compelling story at heart. I'm particularly eager to spotlight diverse voices and find authors who can develop fresh, original ideas in politics, business, history and pop philosophy.