The London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 has announced the winner

The London Book Fair (LBF) has announced that YoungSuk (YS) Chi, Chairman of Elsevier and Chairman of the Association of American Publishers (AAP), is the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024.

An international businessman and a global thought leader in the publishing, education, and information solutions industries, YS Chi is a unanimously well-respected figure in the book world. As Chairman of Elsevier, he works directly with key stakeholders in government, academia, and industry to support over 30 million scientists, students and health information professionals.

In his role as Director of Corporate Affairs for RELX, Elsevier’s parent company, he is responsible for government affairs, corporate communications, and corporate responsibility across all four of the group’s market segments. Based in London and Washington D.C., Chi travels extensively to engage with scientific research communities, deliver thought leadership on key trends and advise stakeholders, boards, and groups across industries.

He is currently Chairman of the Association of American Publishers and has served as President of the International Publishers Association. He is also actively involved in numerous educational, artistic, and charitable organizations, including Princeton University, the Korea-US Science Center KUSCO, and the Ban Ki-Moon Foundation.

YoungSuk (YS) Chi commented: “I am humbled, both by those who nominated me and by the panel that selected me for this tremendous honor. Having entered the book industry unknowingly nearly thirty years ago, I have been incredibly fortunate to learn so much from my peers who have embraced both tradition and innovation. It has truly been a privilege to be enriched by their purpose, dedication, and professional expertise. Being a part of this industry’s development has been a remarkable experience, and I’m certain that publishing will continue to thrive with both talent and passion.”

Gareth Rapley, Director of The London Book Fair, said: “We are delighted to be recognising the impressive career of YS with the Lifetime Achievement Award. From his remarkable work ethic to his impressive stamina across so many fields, in particular his contributions to copyright, his focus on sustainability and his dedication to the industry, YS is an example of one of the most inspiring individuals working in publishing right now. We are lucky to have him as a speaker on the Main Stage on Day 1, and we are looking forward to paying him a worthy tribute at the Fair, celebrating this incredibly well-deserved honour.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award committee, comprised of members from the independent LBF Advisory Board, chose YS Chi from a list of prominent global figures within the book industry. The Award recognizes an individual who has made a truly significant mark in the sphere of the global book world. It is open to publishers, agents, editors, scouts, booksellers, and anyone else involved in the international book industry from any country in the world.

YS Chi will be speaking on the Main Stage of The London Book Fair on Tuesday, March 12, at 11:15 – 12:00, on the panel called ‘Exploring the Ever-Evolving World of Publishing: Global Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities’, alongside Karine Gonçalves Pansa, President of the International Publishers Association (IPA); Ricardo Franco Levi, President of The Federation of European Publishers (FEP); Lawrence Njagi, President of the African Publishers Network (APNET), and Edward Nawotka, Senior International Bookselling Editor at Publishers Weekly. More info here. YS Chi will be presented with his award at a private reception during The London Book Fair.

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