Kevin Hanson

Kevin Hanson has worked in trade book publishing for 40 years.  He has held executive positions in Canada with Penguin and HarperCollins and was the President of Simon & Schuster Canada for close to 20 years where he launched their domestic publishing program, serving as publisher for over 10 years.  Over 50% of the books published by S&S Canada under his leadership were Canadian national bestsellers and included books by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chief Justice of the Canadian Supreme Court, Beverley McLaughlin.  He published  Jesse Thistle's classic From the Ashes and Gord Downie's Secret Path along with the Canadian global publishing phenomenon, Rupi Kaur. He has worked closely with a number of National Hockey League legends including Mark Messier, Mats Sundin, and Tie Domi. He has also worked closely with international design star Sarah Richardson and the artist, Robert Bateman.  He has established many international novelists in Canada, notably Kathy Reichs, Ruth Ware, and Frederik Backman.  

Hanson has been an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University for over 25 years lecturing on the business of publishing and has chaired a number of national boards including his current role as Chair of the National Library and Archives Foundation Board.  Hanson has a BA from the University of Alberta and MBA from the University of Toronto.

Hanson has worked with writers from all genres and backgrounds and is interested in commercial fiction, memoir, sport, politics, science and history.