Profile Books was founded in 1996 by Andrew Franklin and Stephen Brough who wanted to publish stimulating, non-fiction writing that covered a range of fields. Early bestsellers which ticked those boxes included Lynne Truss’s Eats, Shoots & Leaves, (which sold more than 3 million copies worldwide), and the New Scientist “Last Word” series, which sold over 2.5 million copies. Profile has published books under The Economist Books imprint, in association with The Economist. In 2002 Profile acquired the Harper Collins UK business list which includes the classic What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School. Serpent’s Tail, which publishes distinctive, award-winning international fiction, became an imprint of Profile in 2007 followed eleven years later by the crime publisher Viper Books. In 2018 Profile took on Souvenir Press after the death of its legendary founder Ernest Hecht, who ran the company for 67 years. Profile Books has won the Independent Publisher of the Year award three times and in 2020 began a publishing partnership with CHEERIO, the brainchild of celebrated literary agent Claire Conville and author and curator Harriet Vyner.
