Scholastic Names Rachel Leyshon to Succeed Barry Cunningham OBE as Publisher, Chicken House Publishing

Scholastic Names Rachel Leyshon to Succeed Barry Cunningham OBE as Publisher, Chicken House Publishing

After 25 years, Chicken House Founding Directors will Turn the Page to Retirement

2^nd September 2025 - Somerset, UK - Today, Scholastic announced the planned retirement of Chicken House Publishing Ltd founding directors: Barry Cunningham OBE, Publisher and Managing Director, along with Deputy Managing Director Rachel Hickman and Rights Director Elinor Bagenal. After 25 years, the founding directors will together step down on 31^st December 2025 and transition leadership to the newly appointed Publisher, Rachel Leyshon, effective 1^st January 2026.

This leadership change marks an exciting new transition for Chicken House, continuing its legacy of finding writing talent and publishing quality fiction for children. Currently serving as Editorial Director, in her new role Ms. Leyshon will oversee the future creative direction of Chicken House, supported by the existing editorial, production and marketing team. Scholastic and its global infrastructure will continue to provide essential support in finance and worldwide rights and sales representation.

Founded in 2000, Chicken House has been a nurturing home for internationally bestselling authors such as Cornelia Funke, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Maz Evans, Kevin Brooks, Jasbinder Bilan, Lucy Strange, and M.G. Leonard, as well as the multi-million selling Maze Runner series. Over the past 25 years, the independent-minded small publisher has garnered numerous awards, sold millions of books worldwide, and pioneered inventive approaches to discovering new writing talent through initiatives such as The Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition and the Open Coop.

Quotes from:

Rachel Leyshon: "I am honoured to lead Chicken House into the next chapter of its colourful story. Barry, Rachel and Elinor are very special people, whose impact on children's publishing has been immense, and we will miss them hugely, on every level."

Barry Cunninham: "Founding and leading Chicken House with Rachel Hickman and Elinor Bagenal has been an honour and a joy. The authors, illustrators and our teams have made this work meaningful and created a lasting legacy of great stories. With Rachel Leyshon, Chicken House will continue its vibrant mix of new fiction talent and original series."

Iole Lucchese, Chief Strategy Officer, Scholastic: "Barry, Rachel and Elinor have had iconic careers worthy of celebrating and the Scholastic family all wishes them the best in their retirements. Chicken House and its enduring legacy will continue to be cherished, with Rachel Leyshon the best person to take its publishing forward."

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