Home
Wooldridge acquire full Orca ownership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orca Book Publishers is pleased to announce that on January 1, 2017, Andrew Wooldridge purchased founder Bob Tyrrell's remaining fifty-percent stake in the company and is now president and sole shareholder. This transaction represents the final stage in a succession strategy more than fifteen years in the making. Wooldridge acquired an initial ten percent stake in Orca in 2004 and, under an innovative financing arrangement, became a full partner when he took on a further forty percent share in 2007.
Tyrrell had these thoughts on the culmination of a thirty-three year career in publishing: "In hindsight, perhaps the most fortunate day of my publishing life came in September of 1992, when Andrew Wooldridge applied for a part-time job in our tiny warehouse. He was finishing up his degree at UVic at the time and when he graduated he asked about the possibility of full-time work. We were growing, slowly but steadily, in those days, and I was able to offer a half day in the warehouse and a half day doing order entry. Some months later, when I decided that the US was key to our future, I gave Andrew responsibility for developing that market. The rest, as they say, is history.
"I have been extremely lucky in many other ways too. I have been consistently blessed in terms of the quality and dedication of the staff who have worked with us to establish Orca Books as one of the finest publishers for young readers in North America. And of course, a publishing house is defined by its authors and illustrators, and we have been fortunate to have worked with and to continue to work with many of the finest in the country.
"Truthfully, however, one of the accomplishments of which I am most proud is the transition that is now taking place. Successful succession is a huge challenge for Canadian publishing houses. And while it is true that Andrew and I have been very lucky in that we have shared both a common publishing vision and perhaps some magic in the composition of our individual personalities (twenty-five years without a cross word!; who, knowing me, would believe that?), I know we have also worked long and hard to make this work.
"Now is the right time for me to (finally) step aside... confident that the company is in great shape and in the very capable hands of Andrew and associate publisher Ruth Linka. To retire with both financial security for my family and the knowledge that Orca Book Publishers will continue to publish the kind of books that will make me proud, how lucky is that?
"Of course, there is much that I will miss: the thrill of first reading a new piece of fine writing, the pride in that initial look at a beautifully designed and produced picture book or novel, just out of the box and still smelling of the press, and yes, the satisfaction of a positive financial report at month-end. But ultimately, it will be the people that I will miss the most. Not only the staff in our offices in Victoria and Washington state, but also publishing folks from across the country. I've always been amazed by the wonderful collegiality that exists in the Canadian industry, especially here on the Left Coast, but nationally as well. Due to the unique nature of the product we produce, we manage to be both competitors and colleagues, and this is perhaps the thing that makes the work more a vocation than a profession. For a guy who stumbled into publishing without any grand ambitions at all, it's been a wonderful adventure and I will be forever grateful.";
Andrew Wooldridge began his career with Orca twenty-five years ago and has spent the intervening years learning most aspects of the business. "I can't imagine a better place to be, day in and day out. Working with like-minded people in a creative environment is a real gift, and when we look around at the state of the world, we see that books and ideas are more important now than ever before. Orca has been privileged to publish many wonderful books, and, as we look ahead, we are committed to bringing more important stories to young readers.";
"It will be a real change not to have Bob involved in day-to-day operations, and I will certainly miss his always spot-on business sense, and his commitment to Orca and to the Canadian industry at large."; Wooldridge said. "I am relieved though that he will never be far away and, I am sure, never shy with his opinion. These are exciting times for Orca; we have an incredibly competent and committed staff, and we are taking this opportunity to recommit to our ongoing mission of providing the best possible books for young readers. We wish Bob all the best and will always be grateful for his commitment and the vision that will continue into the future.";
-30-
Founded in 1984, Orca Book Publishers is an independently owned Canadian children's book publisher. With over 850 titles in print and more than 80 new titles a year, Orca is based in Victoria BC with a distribution warehouse in Ferndale, WA.
Orca Book Publishers is pleased to announce that on January 1, 2017, Andrew Wooldridge purchased founder Bob Tyrrell's remaining fifty-percent stake in the company and is now president and sole shareholder. This transaction represents the final stage in a succession strategy more than fifteen years in the making. Wooldridge acquired an initial ten percent stake in Orca in 2004 and, under an innovative financing arrangement, became a full partner when he took on a further forty percent share in 2007.
Tyrrell had these thoughts on the culmination of a thirty-three year career in publishing: "In hindsight, perhaps the most fortunate day of my publishing life came in September of 1992, when Andrew Wooldridge applied for a part-time job in our tiny warehouse. He was finishing up his degree at UVic at the time and when he graduated he asked about the possibility of full-time work. We were growing, slowly but steadily, in those days, and I was able to offer a half day in the warehouse and a half day doing order entry. Some months later, when I decided that the US was key to our future, I gave Andrew responsibility for developing that market. The rest, as they say, is history.
"I have been extremely lucky in many other ways too. I have been consistently blessed in terms of the quality and dedication of the staff who have worked with us to establish Orca Books as one of the finest publishers for young readers in North America. And of course, a publishing house is defined by its authors and illustrators, and we have been fortunate to have worked with and to continue to work with many of the finest in the country.
"Truthfully, however, one of the accomplishments of which I am most proud is the transition that is now taking place. Successful succession is a huge challenge for Canadian publishing houses. And while it is true that Andrew and I have been very lucky in that we have shared both a common publishing vision and perhaps some magic in the composition of our individual personalities (twenty-five years without a cross word!; who, knowing me, would believe that?), I know we have also worked long and hard to make this work.
"Now is the right time for me to (finally) step aside... confident that the company is in great shape and in the very capable hands of Andrew and associate publisher Ruth Linka. To retire with both financial security for my family and the knowledge that Orca Book Publishers will continue to publish the kind of books that will make me proud, how lucky is that?
"Of course, there is much that I will miss: the thrill of first reading a new piece of fine writing, the pride in that initial look at a beautifully designed and produced picture book or novel, just out of the box and still smelling of the press, and yes, the satisfaction of a positive financial report at month-end. But ultimately, it will be the people that I will miss the most. Not only the staff in our offices in Victoria and Washington state, but also publishing folks from across the country. I've always been amazed by the wonderful collegiality that exists in the Canadian industry, especially here on the Left Coast, but nationally as well. Due to the unique nature of the product we produce, we manage to be both competitors and colleagues, and this is perhaps the thing that makes the work more a vocation than a profession. For a guy who stumbled into publishing without any grand ambitions at all, it's been a wonderful adventure and I will be forever grateful.";
Andrew Wooldridge began his career with Orca twenty-five years ago and has spent the intervening years learning most aspects of the business. "I can't imagine a better place to be, day in and day out. Working with like-minded people in a creative environment is a real gift, and when we look around at the state of the world, we see that books and ideas are more important now than ever before. Orca has been privileged to publish many wonderful books, and, as we look ahead, we are committed to bringing more important stories to young readers.";
"It will be a real change not to have Bob involved in day-to-day operations, and I will certainly miss his always spot-on business sense, and his commitment to Orca and to the Canadian industry at large."; Wooldridge said. "I am relieved though that he will never be far away and, I am sure, never shy with his opinion. These are exciting times for Orca; we have an incredibly competent and committed staff, and we are taking this opportunity to recommit to our ongoing mission of providing the best possible books for young readers. We wish Bob all the best and will always be grateful for his commitment and the vision that will continue into the future.";
-30-
Founded in 1984, Orca Book Publishers is an independently owned Canadian children's book publisher. With over 850 titles in print and more than 80 new titles a year, Orca is based in Victoria BC with a distribution warehouse in Ferndale, WA.
Submitted on February 22, 2017 in By David.
