Managing Director, Thomas Telford Ltd
Chris Gibson’s diverse portfolio bespeaks his ability to drive cutting-edge business strategies in the face of new technological developments. As a leader in publishing during the industry’s widespread transition from print to digital technology, Chris has delivered real results while also adapting to trends and changes.
Chris began his publishing career at Chapman and Hall where he worked on the fifth edition of the prestigious Dictionary of Organic Compounds. He then joined Harcourt Brace Jovanovich to lead a rapidly expanding books editorial team on titles from Academic Press and WB Saunders. During the transition from print to digital publishing, Chris was instrumental in tackling the early challenges of typesetting directly from authors´ compuscripts.
In 1993 he was appointed head of electronic publishing in Academic Press´s London office where he led the team which delivered the IDEAL electronic journal platform. The success of the platform, which provided web-based access to AP´s 200-plus journals to every HEFCE funded higher education institution in the UK, relied on the development of a business model which has since been widely emulated around the globe.
After the success of Chris’s electronic publishing initiatives at AP, he was appointed managing director and would help to ensure a smooth transition during the organisation’s acquisition by Elsevier in 2001. In 2006 he became Vice President, Academic Publishing with responsibility for Elsevier´s Science and Technology book program for the academic market.
Chris joined Thomas Telford Limited as Managing Director in November 2008 and is committed to growing Thomas Telford´s wide range of business activities to further support the activities of ICE. His proven ability to lead in the face of industry challenges is integral to the success of TTL’s ambitious business plan in the coming years.