Tony Nash, CEO of Australian online book retail giant Booktopia, has landed at number nine on a list of top 30 influencers in Australia and New Zealand’s retail ecommerce sector.

Nash’s high ranking was attributed to Booktopia’s acquisition of rival, Bookworld in 2015 which saw its share of the local online book market jump from 62 per cent to 83 per cent.  

Nash founded Booktopia 13 years ago with his brother, sister and brother-in-law, with the family still owning more than 90 per cent of the company. 

In April Booktopia revealed it was forging ahead with a plan for a $150m float on the ASX later this year despite an increased threat from US book retail giant Amazon.

Amazon stepped up its hold on the Australian market in 2011 with a takeover of its UK subsidiary The Book Depository, which has been selling books to Australia for several years.

The influencer list was commissioned by ecommerce platform company Demandware. Nash is one of only 11 retail influencers which made the list and also one of only six single-focus companies which made the cut. 

Booktopia ships some four million books per year out of its 10,000 square metre distribution centre at Homebush, Sydney. Since January 2007 it has grown from a team of two to 120.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter