Matthew Richell (1973-2014)

Hachette Australia CEO and Hachette New Zealand chairman Matthew Richell, 41, died July 2, 2014 in a surfing accident off the coast of Tamarama in New South Wales, Australia. He was swept onto rocks, received a head injury, and could not be revived.

Richell began his publishing career as the marketing manager for Bloomsbury UK from 1996-2001, and worked at Pan Macmillan UK and Hachette UK imprint John Murray before taking over as marketing director of the Headline and Hodder divisions of Hachette Australia in 2006. He was promoted to CEO in February 2013.

Richell lived in Sydney, and is survived by his wife and two children.

More information can be found at The Bookseller.