James Daunt serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest retail bookseller, as well as of the stationery and gift retailer Paper Source. He also leads Waterstones, the biggest bookseller in the United Kingdom.
Daunt oversees more than 600 Barnes & Noble stores and 125 Paper Source locations in the United States, along with over 300 bookshops across the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Belgium, which include Waterstones, Blackwell’s, Foyles, and Hatchards.
Journey into Bookselling
With over 30 years of experience in bookselling, James Daunt chose a different path from his initial career as an investment banker. In 1990, he opened his own bookstore in London, Daunt Books. Despite its simple name, Daunt Books has grown to nine locations, primarily in London, and remains independently owned by Daunt himself.
Reviving Waterstones
In 2011, businessman Alexander Mamut appointed Daunt as Managing Director of Waterstones after purchasing the struggling bookseller. Under Daunt’s leadership, Waterstones returned to profitability, a turnaround that attracted the attention of Elliott Advisors, who acquired a majority stake in July 2018.
This success story continued with Elliott’s acquisition of Barnes & Noble in August 2019, followed by Barnes & Noble’s purchase of Paper Source in May 2021.
Recognitions and Honors
Beyond his achievements in revitalizing major bookselling chains, James Daunt has received several honors. In 2017, he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Further, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to the publishing industry.
Personal Background
James Daunt graduated from Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge with a degree in history. He is married and has two daughters, balancing his successful professional life with a rich personal life.
