Harry Potter publishing boss dies in tragic speedboat crash on family holiday
Harry Potter fans grab copys of the new and final Harry Potter book 'The Deathly Hallows' which went on sale at midnight at W H Smith Kings Cross in London
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The boss of the publishing house behind JK Rowling’s Harry Potter has died after a tragic speedboat crash during a family holiday.
Adrienne Vaughan, 45, who served as Bloomsbury USA president, was killed following the crash on the Amalfi Coast.
She was onboard the speedboat with her husband Mike, daughter Leanna, 14, and son Mason, 11, as the family took to water near the southern city of Naples on August 3.
The boat collided with a tourist vessel which carried 85 people celebrating a wedding at around 6.30pm.
It has been reported Adrienne was thrown into the water and struck by the boat’s propellers.
A helicopter and ambulances were sent to the scene near Fiordo di Furore.
The mother-of-two was pronounced dead and her husband Mike sustained limb injuries.
Both children are reportedly uninjured but remain in a state of shock.
Adrienne Vaughan was publishing boss at Bloomsbury USA
Mike and the boat’s skipper were taken to hospital in nearby Catiglione di Ravello.
Amalfi Port Authority has launched an investigation into the collision.
Adrienne became president of the US branch of Bloomsbury in 2021.
Bloomsbury Publishing helped Rowling release all seven of her Harry Potter books.
The script of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child goes on display at Foyles book shop in London
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The 45-year-old was previously involved in several notable projects, including the fantasy wizard series.
Adrienne also worked for the Disney publishing group from 2015 to 2018.
She received high praise from former colleagues ahead of her passing.
One said on LinkedIn: “She is incredibly professional, fair and a pleasure to work with.
JK Rowling penned all seven Harry Potter books
PA“Her charismatic leadership coupled with the ability to see the big picture and execute on the details makes Adrienne a tremendous asset to any team.”
Another wrote: “Her compassion for her peers and staff and her dedication to the business are unparalleled and make her an incredible leader.”
A third added: “Adrienne brought a fantastic combination of business/entrepreneurial sense and core finance skills such as long-range planning, reporting and accounting knowledge to OUP.
“My only regret working with Adrienne was not being able to do so for longer.”
The family visited Rome and took snaps outside the Colosseum.