Macmillan Publishers Appoints Darryll Colthrust as Chief Technology Officer
New York, NY (March, 2, 2026): Macmillan Publishers has announced that Darryll Colthrust will join the company as Chief Technology Officer, effective April 7. In this newly created role, Colthrust will report directly to CEO Jon Yaged and serve on the company's executive team.
Colthrust brings more than 20 years of experience leading digital transformation and technology strategy across publishing, finance, retail, local government, and real estate sectors. He is currently Co-Founder and Co-CEO of CHAPTR and has worked extensively at the intersection of technology, innovation, and growth. Throughout his career, he has helped organizations modernize systems, strengthen execution, and responsibly deploy emerging technologies, including AI, while maintaining the human-centered approach essential to creative industries.
As Chief Technology Officer, Colthrust will lead Macmillan's enterprise technology strategy and implementation, partnering across the organization to advance data and technology transformation, AI integration, and process improvements. Elevating the technology function to the executive level underscores the company's commitment to innovation and long-term growth. "Technology is central to how we serve our authors, employees, and partners, and how we compete and grow in a rapidly evolving marketplace," said Jon Yaged, CEO of Macmillan Publishers. "Darryll brings deep expertise, strategic vision, and a collaborative leadership style that aligns perfectly with our values. He understands that technology must empower people and enhance creativity, not replace it. There is no better person to lead our next phase of innovation."
He will continue to serve as AI Board Advisor to Holtzbrinck and as Co-CEO of CHAPTR in a scaled-back, strategic capacity.
"It's an honor to step into this role at such a pivotal moment in our industry and work alongside so many talented people," said Colthrust. "I'm excited to lead Macmillan's efforts in using the power of technology and innovation to support our authors, deepen our connection with readers, and shape the future of publishing in ways that amplify human creativity."
Kaustubh Kamat, SVP, Technology, and Rob Guttman, SVP, Platform Development, will report to Colthrust. The existing reporting structure within the Technology organization will remain unchanged.
About Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers is the U.S. trade company that is part of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned group of media companies headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group's publishing companies include prominent imprints around the world that publish a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats.
U.S. publishers include Celadon Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Flatiron Books, Henry Holt & Company, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, The St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Tor Publishing Group. In the UK, Australia, India, and South Africa, companies in the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group publish under the Pan Macmillan name. The German publishing company, Holtzbrinck Deutsche Buchverlage, includes among its imprints S. Fischer, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Rowohlt, and Droemer Knaur.