Transforming the enterprise - the Barnes & Noble story
James Daunt CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Barnes & Noble, and Managing Director, Waterstones

In a world of ebooks and social media, James Daunt has driven an incredible transformation in the fortunes of two major booksellers, turning US giant Barnes & Noble and the UK’s largest book retailer, Waterstones, into profitable, successful chains that have defied trends in a challenging industry. The group is now the world’s largest retail bookseller, spanning 1000 stores across the US and the UK and USD4 billion in sales, the private-equity owned group has, to quote a recent Financial Times article, “defied predictions that the internet and Amazon would kill off the bookshop”. We’re honoured to be hosting the author of that success for a wide-ranging conversation on the lessons he’s learned leading turnarounds. James will share the role played by good strategy, supported by investments in IT infrastructure and a committed workforce. James is probably the most prominent CEO in the publishing world, having founded his own chain, Daunt Books, before taking on leadership of Waterstones in 2011, and becoming CEO of Barnes & Noble in 2019. He is also CEO of stationery and gifts retailer Paper Source.