Emerald Publishing

Emerald Publishing is an academic publisher headquartered in Leeds, UK, specializing in journals, books, and online resources in management, business, education, social sciences, and more. Its content serves academia, research institutions, and the business community.

Emerald Publishing traces its origins to 1967, when Keith Howard and management academics from the University of Bradford established Management Consultants Bradford (MCB) UP Ltd. The company initially concentrated on management scholarship and related social-science subjects. This specialist orientation gave it a distinct position among academic publishers, particularly in business, management, organizational studies, and applied research. A significant identity change occurred in 2002, when the company adopted the Emerald name after the success of its Emerald Fulltext database. The change reflected the growing importance of electronic delivery and databases in scholarly communication. Emerald developed a portfolio of journals, books, serials, monographs, and digital information products, while retaining its strongest presence in management and the social sciences. The business expanded through acquisitions and catalogue purchases. In 2007 it acquired management and social-science book serials, series, and monographs from Elsevier. Pier Professional, a health and social-care publisher, was acquired in 2011. In 2015 Emerald bought GoodPractice, which supplied practical support tools for leaders and senior managers. GoodPractice, Towards Maturity, and Mind Tools were subsequently brought together under Emerald in 2020, extending the company into professional learning and leadership development. Emerald also broadened its subject coverage. Its publishing program came to include education, library and information science, health, science, engineering, technology, and built-environment research. In 2023 it acquired the book catalogue of Thomas Telford Limited, including 35 journal titles and related assets, from the Institution of Civil Engineers. The New Engineering Contract guides were not part of the transaction. Emerald later acquired Information Age Publishing in 2024 and Now Publishers in 2025, reinforcing its position in specialist academic books and journals. Leadership and ownership changed during the same period. Howard stepped down as chairman in 2017. Richard Bevan, previously CEO, became executive chairman, and Vicky Williams became CEO in 2018. Cambridge Information Group acquired Emerald Group Publishing on 10 June 2022. The supplied reference material reports a subsequent 2026 sale to Wiley for $452 million, making Wiley the reported parent company and owner. The company has presented sustainability, inclusion, and research impact as important parts of its publishing identity. Emerald became a signatory to the SDG Publishers Compact in 2020 and commissioned inclusion reports in 2020 and 2022. It has highlighted journals addressing sustainability and gender in management, including titles assessed highly by an SDG-oriented journal-rating initiative. Outside publishing, Emerald became title sponsor of Headingley Stadium in 2017, leading to the venue being known as Emerald Headingley and its main stand as the Emerald Stand. Emerald withdrew from the sponsorship in November 2021 after an alleged racism controversy involving Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

1. 2026Reported sale to Wiley

   The supplied reference material reports that Wiley purchased Emerald Publishing from Cambridge Information Group for $452 million.

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2. 2025Now Publishers acquisition

   Emerald acquires Now Publishers.

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3. 2024Information Age Publishing acquisition

   Emerald acquires Information Age Publishing.

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4. 2023Thomas Telford catalogue acquisition

   Emerald acquires Thomas Telford Limited's book catalogue, 35 journal titles, and related publishing assets from the Institution of Civil Engineers.

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5. 2022Cambridge Information Group acquisition

   Cambridge Information Group acquires Emerald Group Publishing.

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6. 2020Emerald joins the SDG Publishers Compact

   The company formally supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact.

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7. 2017Emerald becomes Headingley Stadium title sponsor

   Headingley Stadium is renamed Emerald Headingley under a title-sponsorship agreement.

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8. 2015GoodPractice is acquired

   Emerald acquires GoodPractice, a provider of support tools for leaders and senior managers.

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9. 2011Pier Professional is acquired

   Emerald expands into health and social-care publishing through the acquisition of Pier Professional Limited.

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10. 2007Elsevier management catalogue acquisition

    Emerald acquires a program of management and social-science book serials, series, and monographs from Elsevier.

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11. 2002The Emerald name is adopted

    The company changes its name to Emerald following the success of its Emerald Fulltext database.

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12. 1967Management Consultants Bradford is founded

    Keith Howard and management academics from the University of Bradford establish Management Consultants Bradford (MCB) UP Ltd in the United Kingdom.

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A specialist scholarly publisher combining strong foundations in management and the social sciences with a broader portfolio spanning education, health, engineering, technology, sustainability, and professional learning. Emerald emphasizes applied research, interdisciplinary access, research impact, inclusion, and digital dissemination.

• Academic journalsScholarly periodicals1967

  Emerald publishes peer-reviewed journals across management, business, education, library and information science, health, social care, engineering, technology, and sustainability. The journal portfolio is particularly associated with applied and interdisciplinary research, and has expanded through acquisitions and catalogue transfers.

• Academic books and monographsScholarly books1967

  The book program includes monographs, edited volumes, research collections, serials, and specialist book series. It began with a strong management and social-science orientation and later expanded into education, health, engineering, technology, and other applied fields.

• Emerald FulltextResearch database

  Emerald Fulltext was a major digital database associated with the company's transition from a traditional specialist publisher toward a broader electronic information business. Its success contributed to the adoption of the Emerald corporate name in 2002.

• GoodPracticeProfessional learning2015

  GoodPractice provides practical support and development resources for leaders and senior managers. Following Emerald's acquisition of the business in 2015, it was combined with Towards Maturity and Mind Tools under Emerald in 2020.

• Thomas Telford engineering catalogueEngineering publishing2023

  This acquired catalogue includes engineering books, 35 journal titles, and related publishing assets formerly associated with Thomas Telford Limited and the Institution of Civil Engineers. The New Engineering Contract guides were excluded from the acquisition.

• 2020SDG Publishers Compact commitment

  Global

  Emerald joined the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact and aligned part of its publishing and corporate messaging with sustainability and research impact.

  Outcome. The company continued to promote sustainability-related scholarship and reported high SDG relevance for selected journals.

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• 2017Emerald Headingley title sponsorship

  United Kingdom · Yorkshire

  Emerald became title sponsor of Headingley Stadium, with the venue renamed Emerald Headingley and its new main stand named the Emerald Stand.

  Outcome. The sponsorship ended in November 2021 after Emerald withdrew following an alleged racism controversy involving Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

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• 2026Reported sale to WileyM&A

  After Cambridge Information Group's ownership period, the supplied reference material reports a sale to Wiley.

  What changed. Wiley reportedly purchased Emerald Publishing from Cambridge Information Group.

  Aftermath. Wiley became the reported parent company and owner of Emerald Publishing.

  Reported acquisition price. $452 million (2026)

  Source
• 2023Acquisition of Thomas Telford publishing assetsM&A

  The Institution of Civil Engineers sought a new home for the Thomas Telford publishing catalogue and related journal assets.

  What changed. Emerald acquired the catalogue, 35 journals, and associated assets, excluding the New Engineering Contract guides.

  Aftermath. The transaction strengthened Emerald's engineering and built-environment publishing presence.

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• 2022Acquisition by Cambridge Information GroupM&A

  Emerald entered a new ownership phase after decades as an independent publishing house.

  What changed. Cambridge Information Group acquired Emerald Group Publishing on 10 June 2022.

  Aftermath. Emerald continued operating as a specialist scholarly publisher while expanding its portfolio through further acquisitions.

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• 2020Combine GoodPractice, Towards Maturity, and Mind ToolsStrategy

  Emerald sought to extend beyond academic content into practical leadership development and workplace learning.

  What changed. The three learning-related businesses and resources were combined under Emerald.

  Aftermath. The move broadened Emerald's commercial and educational offering beyond conventional scholarly publishing.

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• 2002Rebrand as EmeraldStrategy

  The company's Emerald Fulltext database had gained traction, while digital dissemination was becoming increasingly important to academic publishing.

  What changed. Management Consultants Bradford UP adopted the Emerald name.

  Aftermath. The rebrand supported a broader identity spanning journals, books, databases, and other scholarly information products.

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• 2021Withdrawal from Headingley sponsorship after Yorkshire racism controversyControversy

  Emerald withdrew its Headingley Stadium title sponsorship in November 2021 following an alleged racism scandal involving Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The allegations concerned the cricket organization rather than an established finding that Emerald itself committed misconduct.

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• 2026Wiley purchases Emerald Publishing

  Wiley reportedly purchased Emerald Publishing from Cambridge Information Group for $452 million.

  M&A
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• 2025Emerald acquires Now Publishers

  Emerald acquired Now Publishers, adding another specialist scholarly publishing portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2024Emerald acquires Information Age Publishing

  Emerald expanded its academic books and journals portfolio through the acquisition of Information Age Publishing.

  M&A
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• 2023Emerald acquires Thomas Telford publishing assets

  Emerald acquired the Thomas Telford Limited book catalogue, 35 journal titles, and associated publishing assets from the Institution of Civil Engineers. The New Engineering Contract guides were excluded.

  M&A
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• 2022Cambridge Information Group acquires Emerald

  US-based Cambridge Information Group acquired Emerald Group Publishing on 10 June 2022.

  M&A
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• 2020Emerald signs the SDG Publishers Compact

  Emerald joined the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact and increased its public focus on sustainability in scholarly publishing.

  Other
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• 2018Emerald appoints Vicky Williams as chief executive

  Vicky Williams became CEO of Emerald Publishing, succeeding Richard Bevan, who took on the role of executive chairman.

  Leadership change
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• 2002Emerald changes its name from MCB UP

  The publisher adopted the Emerald name after the success of its Emerald Fulltext database, marking a shift toward a broader digital and international identity.

  Other
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1. Emerald Group Publishing
2. Emerald Publishing official website