Publishing and licensing veteran Julia Posen has been appointed to the newly created position of EVP and commercial director at The Walker Books Group’s new group rights and development division.

Effective immediately, Posen leaves her role as UK-based The Walker Group director of marketing, brands and licensing, and begins her new role, where she will continue to report to Helen McAleer, CGDO of The Walker Books Group. The new rights and development division aims to maximize The Walker Group’s global commercial potential in publishing, L&M, TV production and digital licensing.

In her new role, Posen will be responsible for global merchandising revenues of The Walker Group, and sales and marketing across key territories for the rights and development division, including indie production arm Walker Productions, where she will continue on as a director.

In addition, she will manage in-house teams across digital licensing, group L&M and all marketing and communications.

Posen joined Walker Books in 2010 and worked on properties including Tilly and Friends and Guess How Much I Love You. Prior to this, she held a number of senior roles including children’s commercial director and the head of publishing EMEA and international licensing during her 12-year stint at BBC Worldwide.

Posen’s appointment comes on the heels of McAleer being named to the newly created position of chief global development officer for The Walker Books Group and MD of Walker Productions.