28/06/2023
Get to know Sean Cotcher, Head of Key Accounts at HarperCollins Publishers, a recipient of the George Robertson Award in 2023 for his unwavering dedication and contribution in promoting books and the industry. He shares the massive changes in technology, and how the constant stream of new authors and stories have helped him retain a passion for publishing over more than thirty years.
For Sean Cotcher, Head of Key Accounts at HarperCollins Publishers, no two days are the same. From working on some of the biggest brands in the world, J.R.R. Tolkein to J.K. Rowling, reading Robert Jordan’s first manuscript The Eye of the World to selling Jordan's final book 23 years later – 'there is always something different to discuss, a new story to sell'.
Looking back on how the industry has changed, technology has been the key driver with Sean reflecting on the change of pace:
'When I started as a representative for Penguin in Queensland, we still mailed our orders to the warehouse in Melbourne. You called into the State office in the afternoon from a phone box to get your messages. Orders would take three to four weeks to get delivered and the bookshops were fine with that.'
Moving from portable electronic devices to transmit orders to mobiles and laptops, then the internet to Microsoft Team meetings and now TikTok, there has been a whirlwind of technological advances. Despite this Sean finds reassurance that at the end of the day, a book is still a book. No matter the format, 'the story still matters' and words remain unchanged.
That’s why Sean has tirelessly promoted the publishing industry for over 33 years. First starting with Penguin in Brisbane in 1990, Sean was responsible for the northside of Brisbane to Rockhampton and west, as far as Emerald, as a group representative. Joining HarperCollins as a city representative for the fiction list in 1993, he went on to become a key and national account manager, and in 2001 the national sales manager responsible for the head office national account team and sales representatives.
It is these rich and diverse experiences which have kept Sean in publishing over the years.
'In many industries you are often selling the same items or products over and over, year after year. I originally came from the electrical industry where you had a new product launch every two to three years. But with publishing you have a new range of books to talk about every month, it keeps things interesting.'
In 2006 Sean moved to the newly formed Australian arm of Hachette as the Little Brown key account manager, where he went on to hold a variety of roles including sales operations manager, business development manager and senior account manager. Sean is highly respected amongst key buyers including Big W, QBD, Kmart and Target, perhaps a result of advice Sean lives by, which is to 'always deliver on what you promise' – particularly when it comes to communicating with customers.
Sean now works as Head of Key Accounts for HarperCollins, and looks back on his career with amazement and awe. Stephanie Meyer, Tim Winton, Steve Jobs, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl are just some of the respected authors whose books Sean has worked on. But Sean’s wealth of knowledge has also helped launch careers of new authors, as diverse as Robert Jordan and Ash Barty, and can't choose a standout moment amongst them:
'I have seen many major authors start their careers, I sold in Cloud Street by Tim Winton, and he has just been honoured with the Lloyd O’Neil Award, so it is more about looking back in amazement at the books I have been lucky enough to work on than recalling one incident or book of significance.'
He looks forward to the many more books and authors he will bring to life in the future.
Learn more about other George Robertson Award recipients here.