Appointment of New President, Publisher and CEO, University of Toronto Press

From: Scott Mabury, Vice-President, Operations & Real Estate Partnerships
Date: October 18, 2021
Re: Appointment of New President, Publisher and CEO, University of Toronto Press

On behalf of the UTP Board of Directors, I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Mosher to President, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, University of Toronto Press, effective November 1, 2021.

Jessica brings over 25 years of publishing experience to UTP, 15 years at a senior leadership level.  Most recently she was the EVP/Managing Director at Nelson.  During her tenure, she played a critical role in strengthening the brand awareness of Nelson both within Canada and globally, oversaw a significant change in corporate direction as the company shifted into digital SaaS-based models, and initiated a critical response to ensuring better representation of Canada’s diversity in both resources and services. Prior to Nelson, she spent 16 years with Pearson, both in Canada and the United States, where she held positions of increasing responsibility. Ultimately as the General Manager for Higher Education in Canada, she focused her team on new product models and complete customer solutions.

Education has been a focus of Jessica’s career and a personal passion—she began her publishing career while pursuing a Master of Arts in Medieval Philosophy from the University of British Columbia, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in Philosophy with a Minor in East Asian Studies, as well as two certifications from Rotman School of Management. Jessica was a founding board member of ForGirlSake, a non-profit organization focused on improving the lives of girls through education, and was most recently a Board Director at The Education Bank—a Toronto based charity providing learning resources to children and families in need.

Jessica is an engaging, resourceful, results-driven, and collaborative leader who has deep experience building key relationships and overseeing the design and execution of growth strategies.  Given Jessica’s track record for success, we are confident that she will greatly contribute to our mission, vision and growth while further enhancing the Press’ reputation and stronger ties with the University of Toronto. Please join me in welcoming Jessica to our team!

In addition, John Yates is retiring after 17 years with the Press.  I want to take this opportunity to thank John for his excellent leadership and dedication to the Press.  During his tenure he successfully led the Press through some of its most challenging times with the expansion of the retail, distribution and publishing divisions.  John’s last day with the Press will be October 29, 2021. 

You will recall that in January 2021, and as part of the university’s ongoing process of ensuring academic excellence at U of T, the Provost and I commissioned an external review of the University of Toronto Press for 2021. Reviews provide an unparalleled opportunity to secure the expert advice of leaders in the field, assess our performance against leading international institutions, and receive guidance on key strategic directions. In addition to John’s excellent stewardship, the External Review Committee’s Final Report and the response from UTP management will provide Jessica with strong foundation on which to begin her role with UTP.

Please join me in wishing John the best in his retirement and welcoming Jessica to the Press!