Children’s publishing biggie Egmont UK is establishing a US division with brand-new digs scheduled to open in New York in January.

Douglas Pocock, currently group sales director of Egmont UK, is heading up the US subsidiary as EVP, and Egmont USA intends to publish its first slate of young adult and middle-grade fiction in time for fall 2009. The company will focus on trade, school and library distribution channels

According to Pocock, the launch is the culmination of two years of planning, and the stated goal of the new venture is to become the leading children’s publisher in the US within five years.

Egmont UK is one of the largest children’s book publishers in the UK, and currently holds the publishing rights for iconic characters including Winnie the Pooh and Thomas the Tank Engine. Egmont is also the UK publisher of the Lemony Snicket books.