Midas chief Jacks Thomas has been appointed senior exhibition director of the London Book Fair, and takes up her post in mid January. Thomas succeeds Alistair Burtenshaw, who left his role as director of the fair in September.
Thomas has been at PR company Midas for eight years, and is its current chief executive. She has been the PR contact for the London Book Fair, as well as the Booksellers Association, Publishing Technology and the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Thomas said: "This is a unique opportunity to be involved at a strategic level with this forward-looking organisation and talented team, committed to playing an important role in partnership with the book industry as it reshapes itself for a new age.
"There isn't a more exciting time to be working with the amazing creative minds behind our singularly diverse and wide-ranging industry. Whether the market is mature or emerging, the company small or large, the people from the creative or supply side, the book world is endlessly interesting and innovative.
"I'm looking forward immensely to this new challenge."
Ian Houghton, portfolio director at Reed Exhibitions, which owns the fair, described Thomas as "an excellent choice" with a "deep knowledge of the show and how it works, linked with her understanding of what drives value for publishers". David Roche, non-executive chair, The London Book Fair Advisory Board, said Thomas had "that rare combination of incisiveness, strong character, calmness under fire, and sense of humour that come together to bring out the best in others".
Prior to joining Midas PR, Thomas was director of communications, Europe for Reader's Digest.
Steven Williams and Tony Mulliken, partners at Midas, said: "The London Book Fair has been a client of Midas Public Relations for ten years and we look forward to continuing to working with Jacks in her new role. We will miss her, but our strong, award-winning team will be continuing to work with our many valued book industry clients as well as developing our increasingly diverse portfolio of global premium accounts.'
The London Book Fair will next take place from April 15th-17th 2013 at Earls Court, London. It will remain in its Earls Court venue until at least the 2014 event, after which the site is earmarked to be demolished for redevelopment.