At its general assembly on November 5, the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) elected Sonia Draga, a leading publisher from Katowice, Poland, as its new president, succeeding Ricardo Franco Levi. Draga is the founder and head of the Sonia Draga Publishing Group, one of Poland’s largest publishing houses, established in 2000. Known for publishing about 200 titles annually, the Draga group also operates several bookstores and oversees four distinct imprints.
Beyond her publishing leadership, Draga is an author, translator, and television host, as well as the head of the literary fiction section at Poland’s Book Chamber. She actively promotes reading and has served on the board of Book Fair Ltd., which organizes major book fairs across Poland in cities like Warsaw, Gdynia, Szczecin, and Katowice.
On her election, Draga expressed the importance of representing European publishers amid evolving legislative landscapes. “European legislation plays a huge role at national levels, and it’s essential that the voice of European publishers is heard,” she noted. Draga emphasized the dual role of artificial intelligence as both an opportunity and a challenge, advocating for balanced regulations.
As president, Draga aims to strengthen FEP’s influence in shaping policies that impact the publishing industry. Her leadership also coincides with FEP’s expansion to include Montenegro’s Association of Publishers and Booksellers, its 30th member.