Albin Michel, a well-known French publishing company, has undergone a reorganization of its commercial operations, with three new key appointments effective from September 1, 2026. Daphné Esménard has been named head of the commercial direction, replacing Nathalie Collard, who has retired. Esménard previously served as deputy commercial director since 2019 and joined Albin Michel in 2001 as an assistant product manager. She also recently took on the role of general director at Huyghens de Participations, the family-owned holding company that controls Albin Michel, in April 2025. Sébastien Rouault has joined Albin Michel as sales director, moving from Libella, where he was commercial director until June 2026. Before that, Rouault worked at Robert Laffont, 1001Libraires, and GfK, where he was director of the Book Panel. His experience in sales and market research is expected to bring fresh perspectives to Albin Michel’s commercial strategy. Marie Navarro has been promoted to head of external distribution, continuing her career within Albin Michel’s sales department. Under the new structure, the company has retained its commercial focus, with first-level distribution handled in-house by Rouault and external distribution managed by Navarro. This setup allows Albin Michel to maintain control over key aspects of its sales process while relying on Hachette Distribution for logistics, ensuring a streamlined and efficient operation. The changes reflect Albin Michel’s ongoing efforts to adapt to the evolving publishing industry while preserving its unique commercial identity. With these new appointments, the company aims to strengthen its market position and continue delivering value to its partners and readers.