Penguin Random House Children’s Appoints New Commercial Director for Penguin Ventures

David Sprei will join as commercial director for Penguin Ventures. In this newly created role, David will work in close partnership with Susan Bolsover, global licensing and consumer products director and the Penguin Ventures team. Susan Bolsover will report to Sprei.  

“Penguin Ventures is a successful, multi-award-winning and profitable global business, respected by our partners and licensees around the world,” says Francesca Dow, managing director, Penguin Random House Children’s. “To date, Susan has brilliantly led and managed our strong licensing business and excellent team. Now that Ventures wholly manages the licensing for Classic Peter Rabbit in-house, we are excited about exploring new and uncharted opportunities. We believe we are at an early stage in Penguin Ventures’ potential and in his role David will help take us to the next stage of growth and commercial success. I’m impressed by David’s entrepreneurial mindset and look forward to working with him, together with Susan and our Ventures team, as we explore new U.K. and global opportunities for growth and innovation, explore new IP development and investment and ensure the long-term health and success of our incredible brands. Internally, David will in this new role act as a central commercial unifier for our owned brands, working in close partnership with our brand and publishing teams.” 

David joins from his previous role as director, international business development, ViacomCBS Consumer Products, focusing on new, innovative and non-traditional partnerships across the portfolio. Prior to this David has held commercial and partnership roles at Viacom Velocity (MTV Europe), Instrumental and TBWA\ Stream, London. 

“I am truly excited to work with the world class Penguin Random House Children’s portfolio to drive commercial growth across new and existing markets and lines of business,” says Sprei. “Working with Susan and the Ventures team, we will continue to build on the success, exploring new ways to tell the story and continue to connect and engage our fans from yesterday, today and for tomorrow, helping to future-proof our audiences for years to come.” 

David Sprei joins Penguin Random House Children’s on Oct. 18.