Sage set to make new inroads

When Vivek Mehra, MD and CEO, Sage Publications, quoted Martin Luther King Jr’s “I have a dream” catchphrase at the publication house’s 45th anniversary celebrations at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi on March 17, what he had on his mind was an extensive expansion plan not just in South Asia, but across the globe. Joining him in the resolve were the board of directors of Sage Global — Blaise Simqu, president and CEO, Sage USA, Stephen Barr, managing director, Sage UK. Sage Publications, a pioneer in social science research and text books which was set up by Sara Miller McCune and George McCune, established its Indian wing in 1981.

Mr Mehra’s dream centres around Sage’s brand repositioning: From an academic, non-trade publication house, it is contemplating to diversify itself into retail as well as publishing serious non-fiction, including biographies, books in regional languages and reference journals. “We have a global system of marketing and our products are better placed in the world. Today, there is a need for the Indian books to be sold better abroad,” says Mr Mehra, adding that Sage’s system enables it to have a seamless flow of content across the globe.

Full report here Asian Age