Emerald Publishing
Academic publishing and knowledge services provider
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
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.
History
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.
- 2026
Reported sale to Wiley
[1]The supplied reference material reports that Wiley purchased Emerald Publishing from Cambridge Information Group for $452 million.
- 2025
Now Publishers acquisition
[1]Emerald acquires Now Publishers.
- 2024
Information Age Publishing acquisition
[1]Emerald acquires Information Age Publishing.
- 2023
Thomas Telford catalogue acquisition
[1]Emerald acquires Thomas Telford Limited's book catalogue, 35 journal titles, and related publishing assets from the Institution of Civil Engineers.
- 2022
Cambridge Information Group acquisition
[1]Cambridge Information Group acquires Emerald Group Publishing.
- 2020
Emerald joins the SDG Publishers Compact
[1]The company formally supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact.
- 2017
Emerald becomes Headingley Stadium title sponsor
[1]Headingley Stadium is renamed Emerald Headingley under a title-sponsorship agreement.
- 2015
GoodPractice is acquired
[1]Emerald acquires GoodPractice, a provider of support tools for leaders and senior managers.
- 2011
Pier Professional is acquired
[1]Emerald expands into health and social-care publishing through the acquisition of Pier Professional Limited.
- 2007
Elsevier management catalogue acquisition
[1]Emerald acquires a program of management and social-science book serials, series, and monographs from Elsevier.
Products and positioning
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.
Scholarly periodicals · 1967
Academic journals
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.
Scholarly books · 1967
Academic books and monographs
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.
Research database
Emerald Fulltext
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.
Professional learning · 2015
GoodPractice
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.
Engineering publishing · 2023
Thomas Telford engineering catalogue
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.
Controversies
2021
Withdrawal from Headingley sponsorship after Yorkshire racism controversy
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.
Marketing campaigns
- 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.
- 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.
Brand decisions
2026
Reported sale to WileyM&ABackground
After Cambridge Information Group's ownership period, the supplied reference material reports a sale to Wiley.
Action taken
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)
2023
Acquisition of Thomas Telford publishing assetsM&ABackground
The Institution of Civil Engineers sought a new home for the Thomas Telford publishing catalogue and related journal assets.
Action taken
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.
2022
Acquisition by Cambridge Information GroupM&ABackground
Emerald entered a new ownership phase after decades as an independent publishing house.
Action taken
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.
2020
Combine GoodPractice, Towards Maturity, and Mind ToolsStrategyBackground
Emerald sought to extend beyond academic content into practical leadership development and workplace learning.
Action taken
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.
2002
Rebrand as EmeraldStrategyBackground
The company's Emerald Fulltext database had gained traction, while digital dissemination was becoming increasingly important to academic publishing.
Action taken
Management Consultants Bradford UP adopted the Emerald name.
Aftermath
The rebrand supported a broader identity spanning journals, books, databases, and other scholarly information products.
Sources2 sources
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