About us

A shared passion

In 1967, Emerald Publishing launched with the aim to change lives through learning. More than 50 years on, we still live by that ethos. This means helping to make a difference, so that little-by-little, those in academia and practice can work together and make a positive difference in the real world. Our independence and family values make us nimble and fuels our passion – that’s how real impact starts; one idea, one connection, and one informed decision at a time. It’s through small steps that real change happens.

While our roots are in publishing, and bringing research to life, we are a group of businesses, all united in a common purpose. Whatever we do, for Emerald Publishing or Emerald Works, in our UK offices or one of our global offices, we are driven by a desire to have a positive impact on society.

The Emerald timeline

Our brand has a rich history – shaped by 50 years plus of fresh thinking and experimentation. From the early days to today, our pioneering spirit has helped us respond to changing customer needs, and become a leader in digital learning.

 

1967

The company is born

Dissatisfied by publishing outlets of the time, a group of academics from the University of Bradford School of Management form Management Consultants Bradford (MCB). Dr Keith Howard and colleagues oversee the establishment of what would become one of the world’s leading independent academic publishers.

1968

First journal bought for just £1

The business purchased its very first journal, Management Decision for just £1. Management Decision is one of the oldest and longest running scholarly management journals. Throughout its history, it has enjoyed outstanding international exposure.

1969

The foundations for success

50 academics from the University of Bradford School of Management each pay £100 for a share in the company's first office. The building, a converted terraced house, established the company's roots in Yorkshire which are maintained to this day.

1970

First full-time employee

The first full time employee is hired to help process article submissions and journal production. As Emerald enters its 50th year there are now over 350 employees worldwide.

1977

First ‘Think Tank’ meeting

For the first 10 years, all journals were published and managed by separate companies. At the annual 'Think Tank' meeting, the decision is taken to merge individual companies into one publishing house. This meeting continues to this day and has informed many key developments in our history.

1982

Action learning

Paving the way for our commitment to usable research, the company becomes the official publisher for International Management Centres, an independent action learning business school. 

1984

Moving with the times

Continuing success leads to the acquisition of bigger premises: a Victorian house able to accommodate 25 staff managing a growing portfolio of 25 journals. At the same time, the business takes the decision to buy six STM journals taking a step into the STM market. 

1985

A platform for leading thinkers

Michael Porter, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard University, and one of the most cited and well known authors in business and economics, publishes with Emerald: Technology and Competitive AdvantageJournal of Business Strategy.

1992

The first digital product

Digitization and launch of ANBAR on CD-ROM, the company's first electronic abstracting & indexing product. Acquired by Emerald in 1981, ANBAR was named after the creator's daughters Anne and Barbara and later became Emerald Management Reviews.

1992

A connected community

As part of our absolute commitment to providing quality service and supporting resources for authors, editors and reviewers the 'Literati Club' is launched.

1992

Research with real impact

It has been 27 years since author Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web and Emerald's journal, Internet Research published his article on the project. World‐wide web: the information universe

1993

Global markets

The first overseas office opens in Japan and establishes a global presence which now includes representation in over 20 countries, with offices across five continents. Pictured are staff from the Malaysia office which opened in 1994.

1994

Management research database

The company begins publishing its journals as the Electronic Management Research Library Database (EMERALD) on CD-ROM. One of the first publishers to embrace this medium, 'Emerald' would later become the company name. The following year the online version of 'Emerald Fulltext' goes live.

2000

Emerald Insight launched

The first version of the company’s research platform goes live; emeraldinsight.com provides accessible and discoverable eJournal content. Emerald eJournal Collections now features over 255,000 articles from over 350 journals.

2001

We become 'Emerald'

With the success of its first digital database, the company adopts the name Emerald Group Publishing, with a global brand relaunch and a new visual identity and vision.

2003

Dr Keith Howard

After a decade of expanding Emerald's global presence, Dr Howard takes full control of the business following a share purchase with Dr Barrie Pettman. Emerald continues to grow as a principled, independent family-owned business.

2007

Book publishing

On our 40th anniversary, we acquire a collection of books from Elsevier, strengthening our expansion into book publishing and the field of social sciences. 

2008

Backfiles collections

Over 68,000 articles from 120 journals dating back to 1898 are digitised. In 2017 Emerald's Backfiles Collection extends its offer to include content up to 2006, which adds a further 60,000 articles. 

2011

Dr Howard receives OBE

Dr Keith Howard is awarded an OBE for services to business, sport and to the arts in West Yorkshire from Her Majesty The Queen. This commitment is largely achieved through the Emerald Foundation, our charitable arm.

2011

Dedicated to subject specialism

Emerald extends its specialist focus into health and social care with the acquisition of Pier Publications. 

2011

Global relevance

The business launches Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, a digital collection of peer-reviewed teaching case studies focusing on business decision making and management in global markets. 

2013

Research Media

An innovative business dedicated to translating scientific research into a language everyone can understand and engage with, Bristol-based Research Media joins forces with Emerald.

2014

A dedicated research platform

Emerald's research content emeraldinsight.com is relaunched via Atypon's Literatum platform.

2015

GoodPractice

Delivering learning support and online tools for leaders and managers across more than 300 organizations, Edinburgh-based GoodPractice provides an exciting opportunity to grow our business in the corporate sector.

2017

50 years of research

'What started as a specialist academic publisher is now a global business focused on bringing research to life, with Emerald Group owning three companies that bridge research, education and professional learning and development'. Richard Bevan, Emerald Group CEO

2018

Making a real impact

Introduced our Real Impact Awards, and launched impact literacy workbooks, supporting our commitment to not only supporting the impact agenda, but also in challenging outdated practices.

2019

Better insight

Relaunched Emerald Insight to make content more discoverable, and became a signatory of DORA. Launched SDG Gateways on Emerald Open Research with content freely accessible to everyone. Welcomed Mind Tools, a global provider of research and learning resources, to the Emerald Group.

2020

Our commitment

Signed United Nations SDG Publishers Compact, committing to publishing content that will help inform, develop and inspire action towards real-world challenges. Proud winner of the 2020 IPA ‘Independent Publisher of the Year.

2022

Cambridge Information Group acquires the Emerald Group

Vicky Williams, CEO of Emerald Group, today announced their acquisition by Cambridge Information Group (CIG).


Our company structure

As a family-owned business, we are independent in our thinking, nimble and care about the communities we serve and are members of. Led by Vicky Williams, Group CEO, the Group has evolved into a dynamic, digital-first business that employs some 300 people worldwide, united by a common purpose, to share knowledge and help learning thrive.

EMERALD PUBLISHING

Bringing research to life

What we do

Emerald Publishing is one of the world's leading digital-first publishers, commissioning, curating and showcasing research that can bring about real change. We work with thousands of universities and business schools across the world, to share knowledge and provoke the kind of debate that leads to positive change.

What sets us apart

We go beyond the realms of traditional publishers and see ourselves as a change agent, championing fresh thinking and bringing together communities, so their research can effect change in the real world. We celebrate curious minds who want to make a difference, from pioneering new ways to share research to creating innovative digital tools to help our customers discover it, we always strive to go that little bit further.

EMERALD WORKS

Award-winning on-demand learning and development content, tools and courses

What we do

Emerald Works is an award-winning digital learning provider focused on workplace performance support, coaching and custom e-learning solutions. We pursue our mission through our internationally recognized and respected product and service brand, Mind Tools.

Mind Tools: Empowering people to thrive at work
We believe competence and confidence leads to healthy professional relationships, inspiring cultures and thriving working communities. Growth, at work and in life, is what we’re passionate about and work hard to support. This is our purpose, it’s why we exist above and beyond making a profit. And it drives each of us in our everyday working practice.

Our brand story
The world of work has changed forever, placing new demands on the way we interact, communicate, work and learn. For 25 years Mind Tools has been adapting to help people step up to meet everyday workplace challenges with confidence. Today, our brand tells a story of empowerment. Of helping people thrive. We do this through a focus on our user, their experience and interaction with our content and product.

Mind Tools content is created in-house by our expert team, designed to give ambitious people the confidence to step up and thrive in today’s ever-changing workplaces. Focused on our learners needs whether engaging at home or in the workplace, we have product plans for self-funded individuals and for businesses big and small – who believe in empowering their staff to perform, manage and lead.

What sets us apart

Mind Tools content is created in-house by our expert team, designed to give ambitious people the confidence to step up and thrive in today’s ever-changing workplaces.

Focused on our learners needs whether engaging at home or in the workplace, we have product plans for self-funded individuals and for businesses big and small – who believe in empowering their staff to perform, manage and lead

About Cambridge Information Group

In 2022, we were acquired by Cambridge Information Group LLC, a family-owned, mission led investment firm with deep experience in the higher education industry. CIG has a long heritage of acquiring and building businesses that have a positive impact on society and its acquisition of Emerald will allow us to build on the legacy created by Dr Keith Howard to drive positive change.

Find out more


Our leadership team

Vicky Williams, Chief Executive Officer

I’ve worked in academic publishing for over 20 years, with C-suite responsibility for a range of business areas in that time – Business Development, M&A, Marketing, Digital, and HR. I’ve been Chief Executive for Emerald since 2018, and am proud to be part of a business that innovates, takes risks, responds to its communities, and really values its people.

As part of both giving back and learning from our communities, I'm an International Advisory Board member for the University of Bradford, and an Advisory Board member for the University of Lincoln’s Impact Literacy Institute. I also work within the local community on Bradford’s Economic Recovery Board.

Both in and out of work, I'm a keen advocate for gender diversity, having launched Emerald’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme in 2016, and speak widely on this topic at global forums and events. I love the theatre and music, but you'll still find me at my happiest browsing for hours in a bookshop!

Simon Cox, Chief Financial Officer

I joined Emerald in 2013. Prior to this, I qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte, specialising in corporate finance whilst working in the UK and Asia-Pacific. Subsequently I worked for Barclays plc as a Corporate Director, managing a diverse team with over £600m of assets under management, and came to know Emerald as a client, when I first got to know the business.

I have direct responsibility for functions including Data, Group Finance, Revenue Operations & Workplace & Services. My focus at Emerald is to provide the resources and governance to support Emerald’s ambitious plans, and to guide the execution of our growth strategy. I was closely involved in Emerald’s journey to join the Cambridge Information Group family of businesses, and I look forward to the new opportunities this offers Emerald and its committed team of colleagues.

Outside of work, I mostly deliver and collect my children to/ from various clubs and events! I also enjoy mountain biking, watching cricket and rugby, and travelling when time allows!

Tony Roche, Chief Officer: Publishing & Strategic Relationships

I joined Emerald Publishing in 2012, and subsequently led a range of business functions including content acquisition and management, product and business innovation. Most recently, I led the business as CEO prior to and following its acquisition by Cambridge Information Group. I'm delighted to take up the new role of Chief Officer: Publishing & Strategic Relationships, with responsibilities spanning all aspects of publishing, brand, open research, public policy, strategic relationships, and as part of the M&A team.

As one of the first signatories of the UN’s SDG Publisher Compact, Emerald is committed to a range of actions to help realise the SDGs and create positive societal impact, and this is the focus of my contribution to Emerald and our communities.

Prior to joining Emerald, I worked across a range of editorial, product, brand, and publishing roles with Elsevier over a 16 year period, culminating in Publishing Director for Business and Management Sciences.

Outside of the business, my wife Sarah and I enjoy all that comes with having two teenagers at home, as well as two energetic Field Spaniels!

John Yates, CEO, Emerald Works

I joined Emerald Works as CEO in 2020, having previously served on the City & Guild’s Group Board for 10 years in a variety of roles, most recently as Managing Director of Corporate Learning.

I believe in the transformative power of learning on lives, careers and companies and for the past two decades have focused on the engagement and impact benefits of online delivery.  Since joining Emerald Works, I have focussed on unifying the products and services under the MindTools brand and on the development of strategies to deliver against the company visions: 'To become the World’s #1 Workplace Performance Coach.'

Emma Tregenza, Chief Legal & People Officer

I joined Emerald in 2016, initially as General Counsel, having previously held senior roles within the legal teams at Paramount Pictures and Amazon.

I believe strongly that businesses should make a positive social impact and, since 2018, have led the development of Emerald’s responsible business strategy, including our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and to the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2022, my role expanded further to include responsibility for all aspects of people and culture, and I now lead the legal and people teams at Emerald. It's a cliché perhaps, but our people are our biggest asset and, as we navigate the social and environmental challenges around us, it has never been more important to create a workplace in which everyone is supported and empowered.