New Delhi– Random House India has appointed Meru Gokhale to its senior publishing team as part of the Company’s plans for growth. Meru, previously Senior Commissioning Editor, Penguin Books India, joins as Editorial Director, Vintage India, to grow a prestigious list of literary fiction and non-fiction.

Milee Ashwarya, currently Senior Commissioning Editor, Random House India, is promoted to Editorial Director, Ebury India, and will lead the growth of the popular fiction and non-fiction list with particular focus on lifestyle publishing.

Gaurav Shrinagesh, MD Random House India, said: “I am delighted to be able to announce these two appointments. Attracting the quintessential editorial genius of Meru and awarding a well-deserved internal promotion to the extremely talented Milee ensures we have two brilliant publishers at the forefront of our commitment to growth. We will continue adding still further first class commissioning talent to our team to build on the success we are currently enjoying in this vibrant market.”

Sonny Mehta, Chairman of Random House India, said: “These appointments are excellent news for Random House India and will be warmly welcomed by authors and the wider publishing industry alike. Meru and Milee will build on the excellent legacy of Chiki Sarkar and will contribute greatly to our continued growth.”

Gail Rebuck, Chair and CEO, The Random House Group, said: “I am confident that both Meru and Milee will work tirelessly to publish their distinctive lists with a flair and verve which will be second to none and which will help strengthen and grow Random House India overall. I look forward to celebrating their many Random House India new talent discoveries and bestsellers in the future.”

Meru began her publishing career in 2004 as Commissioning Editor, Penguin Books India, commissioning and editing books spanning popular fiction and nonfiction, cookbooks and current affairs.

Most recently she has worked as Senior Commissioning Editor at Penguin Books India, acquiring, commissioning and editing books from authors including Kiran Desai, Jamil Ahmad, Sonia Faleiro, Tahmima Anam and Rahul Pandita. 2011 sees her join Random House India as Editorial Director, Vintage India with responsibility for growing a list of literary fiction and non-fiction.

Meru said: “I am thrilled to be joining Random House India, particularly with this exciting new role at Vintage India. Vintage is one of the world’s great literary imprints, with its extraordinary list of authors and beautiful design sensibility, and I look forward to building a list of the very highest quality in India.”

Milee began her publishing career at Rupa & Co, first as Assistant Editor and then as Editor. In 2008 she joined Random House India as Commissioning Editor and was promoted to Senior Commissioning Editor in January 2011. Working across all genres, she has worked with authors like Payal Gidwani Tiwari, Dr Firuza R Parikh, Pratibha Karan and Cyrus Broacha. Her new role as Editorial Director, Ebury India will see her shaping Random House India’s list of popular fiction and non-fiction especially all areas of lifestyle publishing.

Milee said: “Random House India has been my home for the past three years and I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to play an even bigger role in its future success.”