CPI

Profile narrative

The Agency, also known as CPI, is a literary agency headquartered in the United Kingdom, with its operations based in London. As a literary agency, its core function is to represent authors, negotiate publishing contracts, manage subsidiary rights, and provide advisory services related to the development and commercialisation of written works. The agency serves a market that includes writers seeking representation, publishers looking for talent, and other stakeholders in the literary and publishing industries. Its HQ location in the United Kingdom places it within one of the world’s major centres for publishing activity. The organisation operates under the aliases The Agency and CPI, which are used interchangeably in public references. These details establish its identity as a UK‑based literary service provider.

On 7 February 2025, the agency suffered a ransomware attack carried out by the Rhysida ransomware group, which encrypted its data files and caused a significant IT outage. The attackers claimed responsibility and threatened to publish stolen data unless a ransom was paid, prompting the organisation to engage external IT and cyber‑security specialists as well as the Metropolitan Police Service cybercrime unit to investigate the incident. In response, the agency notified its clients that their personal data may have been copied and advised them to remain vigilant against potential fraudulent communications. The attack disrupted normal operations, leading the team to focus on containment, recovery, and assessing the full scope of the data compromise while implementing additional protective security measures. This incident highlights the vulnerability of literary agencies to cyber threats and underscores the importance of robust incident response procedures. The agency’s handling of the event involved coordination with law enforcement and technical experts to mitigate further risk and restore services.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.