Independent Glasgow publisher Cargo has announced several changes to its board, effective immediately. Mark Buckland, who founded the company in 2009, has stepped down from the role of Managing Director he has held for the past five years, with editors-in-chief Helen Sedgwick and Gill Tasker now filling the MD position jointly. Buckland remains involved with the company as Director of Special Projects, and Murray Buchanan – Cargo’s director and a previous executive at the Virgin Group – is now Chairman.

Tasker was previously editor-in-chief for Cargo, whilst Sedgwick held the same role at Cargo Crate, Cargo’s sister label dealing with digital exclusive ebooks. Both have been with Cargo for several years, and between them have worked on titles including Juliet Conlin’s The Fractured Man, Martha and David Payne’s NeverSeconds: The Incredible Story of Martha Payne and the four-volume collection Elsewhere, a collaboration with US publishing house McSweeney’s. Sedgwick is also managing editor of the popular literary journal Gutter.

Of the changes, Buckland says: ‘After five years at Cargo, I feel the time is right to move on to new opportunities. Anyone in the industry who knows Gill and Helen knows two exceptional, passionate individuals who have amassed a wealth of experience in publishing already. With the creativity and drive of Murray Buchanan as Chairman, I’m looking forward to watching our new team take Cargo to even greater heights.’

Sedgwick and Tasker are similarly effusive about their co-workers and optimistic about the future of the company. Sedgwick says ‘I’m honoured to have been given this opportunity. What Mark has achieved in the past five years is extraordinary and with the wealth of talent at Cargo I’m sure that the next five years will be very exciting for all of us.’ Tasker, too, says ‘I’m immensely proud of what Cargo has accomplished in just a few years. Mark’s been an inspiration from the outset, so it’s a great privilege to follow in his footsteps. With our new team in place, we’re looking firmly to the future.’

Buchanan pays tribute to all three, saying ‘I am delighted to welcome Helen and Gill to the board. They are both exceptionally talented and capable and have been integral to Cargo’s success from the start. I am confident that under their management Cargo will go from strength to strength, building on the foundations that Mark created with his passion, determination and enormous hard work.’

On the immediate horizon for the new board are The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Z. Danielewski and Alasdair Gray’s autobiography Of Me & Others, both due for publication in the coming months.