Potter whizz joins Bloomsbury board

THE woman who brought Harry Potter to adoring millions has been rewarded with promotion to the board of Bloomsbury Publishing. Sarah Odedina joined Bloomsbury as editorial director for children's books in January 1997, the year in which the first Potter novel, Philosopher's Stone, was published.

Odedina began her publishing career as a literary agent in 1988 before moving to Penguin and then to children's publisher Watts Publishing.

The phenomenal success of JK Rowling's Potter, which has sold more than 120m copies worldwide, means it now accounts for about half Bloomsbury's revenues and slightly more than half its profits. But Odedina can claim other successes including Holes and Five Little Fiends. Californian venture capitalist Michael Mayer becomes a non-executive director.