Silver will take over from Philippa Milnes-Smith, who is set to retire on 3rd October 2025. In addition, the agency is also promoting Eleanor Lawlor and Sarah Stamp to associate agents.

Silver started her career at Egmont in editorial before moving to the Darley Anderson Children’s Agency in 2018.

She said: “‘I am enormously excited to be joining The Soho Agency and I am thrilled to be able to work with Philippa’s wonderful clients. I am also looking forward to building on her work to make The Soho Agency one of the top homes for Children’s and YA authors and illustrators in the UK. I can’t wait to get started.”

Silver’s clients have been bestsellers, chosen as Waterstones, Blackwell’s and Indie Books of the Month, and won prizes including the Carnegie Medal Shadowers’ Choice and the Diverse Book Award.

Lawlor will work on the children’s and YA list alongside Silver, as well as continuing to work with managing director Rowan Lawton across her client list. Stamp will continue to work with Ben Clark on his adult client list. Both will also begin to build their own client lists.

In addition, Zoe Parrish, who currently works with the onscreen team at Soho, will join the book department to assist Rowan Lawton and Alice Saunders.

Lawton said: “We are delighted to welcome Lydia to the agency. Her passion, expertise and track record in representing outstanding children’s and YA talent makes her the perfect person to fill Philippa’s very large shoes and lead this area of our business into its next chapter. We also congratulate our newly promoted associate agents – their talent and commitment strengthen our ability to support authors and illustrators across every stage of their career.”