Kim Cross – Founder and Managing Director
Kim Cross, our founder and Managing Director has worked full-time for his own companies since 1976. In 1971 Kim went to Canada for a two-week holiday and stayed for 20 years…. Some holiday! After receiving some excellent sales training in the field of office equipment he soon branched out into his own business. Initially owning a real estate company in Vancouver in 1976, then expanded within the industry and bought another real estate company in Calgary, Alberta, in 1980.
During his time in Calgary, Kim saw a real opportunity within the oil and gas industry and started a natural gas brokerage company. The brokerage business grew rapidly so he sold the real estate companies and concentrated fully on the gas brokerage firm – ultimately selling it to Enron in 1990…. while they had some money!
Upon his return to the UK in 1991, Kim started an advertising company with an associate, selling space on the reverse of supermarket receipts (an idea he had seen in the US), and had contracts with Sainsbury’s, Safeway, Morrisons and Somerfield. Kim sold his interest in that company in 2002 and has since been involved in some small property developments. Having some spare time on his hands and having always wanted to write a book he wrote a thriller called The Suicide Bomber in 2004/05. After much frustration trying to get publishers or literary agents to read his book he decided to start his own self-publishing company and Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd. was born in September 2005.
Kim retired from the day-to-day running of the business in 2017 but stayed involved on a consultant basis. He finally took full retirement in 2021.
Julie Scott – General Manager
Joining the GHP team in 2021, Julie spent 15 years in customer service in the banking industry and before that had a long and enjoyable career in administration. She wanted to work in publishing since leaving school but circumstances didn’t allow. While not even looking for a new job, one day she spotted a vacancy at Grosvenor House Publishing and it was as if it was meant to be! She can safely say it is her dream job.
Julie spends her time outside of work walking for miles and miles. A 26 mile walk around London, a 36 mile Pilgrims Way walk and a virtual challenge from Lands End to John O’Groats are some of her many achievements. When she is not walking, she is at home with her husband and her cat and will usually be found reading anything about history and the classics.
“I absolutely love working for GHP and the fact that I can make an author’s dream come true and help them through the publishing process every step of the way until they see their book in print is an excellent reason to get up in the morning.”
Melanie Bartle – Publishing Administrator
Melanie joined GHP in 2020 which was quite a year to embark on a new career in self-publishing with so many novice authors suddenly having all the time in the world to write that book they never had time to write!
After leaving her hometown of Leeds in 2002, Melanie spent 15 years in the bright lights of London, working in various office manager roles for creative recruitment agencies. She was then fortunate enough to join a top branding design agency as their in-house recruitment manager, where she spent seven very happy years working with – and hiring – some of the most creative people in the industry. After the birth of her daughter in 2017, it was finally time to leave the London rat race and escape to the Kent coast where she now enjoys a much calmer pace of life by the sea as a proud single mum to Lexie.
The role at GHP came at just the right time for Melanie and she couldn’t have been happier swapping scrutinising CVs for manuscripts. It is such a satisfying role that combines her love of the English language with her strong relationship building skills and passion for creativity. Being a real ‘people person,’ she loves nothing more than helping her authors bring their writing to life and making their publishing dreams become a reality, working closely with them every step of the way.
“It’s one thing being immersed in a good book but it’s equally, if not more, enjoyable playing a large part in the creation of one. And even more rewarding when your authors return to work with you on their next book project.
Every day brings a whole new, mindboggling mix of challenges and triumphs and I can honestly say, there is never a dull moment in this job – just how I like it!”
Jasmine Damaris – Publishing Administrator
Joining the GHP team in 2023, Jasmine is a well-travelled booklover who has wanted to work in the book publishing industry since leaving sixth form college. After a two-year stint spent travelling, which even led to her working in the Australian outback at only 19-years-old, a brief trip to Japan, and eventually landing an administrative role in London, she decided to attend university to study Creative Writing and English Literature. At university, Jasmine fell in love with the written word even more so, if that were possible. She graduated with a first class with honours.
After a few years of working in public-facing hospitality roles by day, and playing in rock bands by night, she finally found her home at Grosvenor House Publishing. A job that combines her love of books with her creative flair.
Jasmine still plays guitar and sings in bands in her free time, and also enjoys reading and writing prose and lyrics – keeping the creative wheels turning on a daily basis!
“It’s been an amazing learning experience for me to see the ins and outs of what goes into making a book. I have really enjoyed speaking with writers of a variety of genres and helping make their creative vision a reality, and I also get to do this alongside a wonderful and supportive close-knit team!”
Forever in our hearts and never forgotten
Becky Banning, our dear friend and colleague who sadly lost her brave battle with cancer in December 2023.
You are truly missed xx