Robert Kirby wins AGENT OF THE YEAR

Last night at the Bookseller Industry Awards The Orion Literary Agent Award was given to Robert Kirby of United Agents. 

He beat off strong competition from five other agents. 

From a hugely competitve shortlist, which promoted much debate among the panel, Robert Kirby, described as "strong, smart and building one hell of a profitable list" saw off his fellow agents to pick up this year's award. 

The judges were impressed by the range of clients Kirby represents across fiction and non-fiction - including comedians Rob Brydon and James Corden, mind, body and spirit bestseller Paul McKenna, and fantasy writer Joe Abercrombie - and his abillity to match them to the appropriate publishers to reach their potential. They also pinpointed his creativity, which has seen him repostition and reinvent his authors, including building Dawn French as a novelist with Michael Joseph, and aiding bestselling children's author Anthony Horowitz to branch into adult fiction with Orion. 

With the panel looking specifically for outstanding acheivements in 2010, Kirby's handling of YouTube sensation Simon's Cat, which went on to secure sales of 750,000 books across 20 territories, stood him in good stead and demonstrated the level of his imagination. 

Aside from helping his authors to achieve strong sales, Kirby was commended for the fair way he deals with publishers. "He doesn't play favourites and is very positive," said one judge.