In a devastating boating accident off the picturesque Amalfi Coast in Italy, Adrienne Vaughan, 45, the president of Bloomsbury Publishing’s US branch, lost her life after being thrown overboard and fatally hit by a vessel’s propeller. The incident occurred on Thursday as she, her husband, and their two children were on a motorboat, being driven by a hired skipper, heading towards Positano.
The motorboat collided with a sailboat that was carrying over 80 US and German tourists celebrating a wedding on board. A wedding guest who happened to be recording the dance floor at the time of the crash captured the moment a woman, later identified as Ms Vaughan, was seen struggling in the water. Despite being promptly pulled from the water and brought to a nearby dock, she tragically succumbed to her injuries before a helicopter ambulance arrived, as reported by state TV.
While Ms Vaughan’s husband, Mike White, sustained a shoulder injury and was hospitalized, their two young children remained unharmed. Fortunately, no one on the sailboat suffered injuries either.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the skipper of the motorboat, an Italian about 30 years old, tested positive for substance use in a blood test. However, it was not specified whether the substance was alcohol or drugs. The skipper also suffered a broken pelvis and ribs in the collision.
The Italian coast guard office in Amalfi is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the accident. Despite attempts to gather more information from the coast guard office, they have yet to respond to requests for details.
Adrienne Vaughan was a highly accomplished individual, holding a master’s degree in business from New York University. Prior to joining Bloomsbury in 2020, she had an impressive career, having worked at esteemed companies like the Disney Book Group and Oxford University Press. She served as executive editor and COO before being promoted to president of Bloomsbury Publishing’s US branch in 2021. Ms Vaughan was also an active board member of the industry trade group, the Association of American Publishers.
In the wake of her untimely passing, colleagues and industry peers have expressed deep sorrow and admiration for her talents and dedication. Julia Reidhead, the board chair, and Maria A. Pallante, the president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers, issued a joint statement, paying tribute to Ms Vaughan’s extraordinary leadership and passion for authors and readers.
