Renowned Bookseller James Daunt to Host Exclusive Q&A Session at Portland Press Herald Headquarters

Renowned bookseller James Daunt, the Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble, is set to host an exclusive Q&A session at Portland Press Herald Headquarters located on Gannett Drive in South Portland on Monday, June 3 at 9 a.m.

Daunt, who oversees a vast retail empire including Barnes & Noble, Paper Source, and Waterstones across the United States and various European countries like the United Kingdom and The Netherlands, has a rich history in the world of bookselling.

With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Daunt initially began his journey by establishing the well-known Daunt Books in London back in 1990 before taking the reins at Waterstones in 2011 when it was acquired by businessman Alexander Mamut.

Under Daunt’s leadership, Waterstones was successfully turned around and later acquired by Elliott Advisors in 2018, leading to further expansions and acquisitions within the book retail sector.

Among his many accolades, Daunt was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2017 and was recognized with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for his notable contributions to the publishing industry.

A graduate of Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge where he studied history, Daunt’s expertise and strategic vision have shaped the landscape of modern bookselling globally.