Effective at the end of the year, Ginny Anson, v-p, director of manufacturing at Penguin Young Readers Group, is retiring. Penguin Young Readers president Jen Loja called Anson " a true and special force in our book world. Her impact has been enormous, both because of her work--and because of who she is, at her core, with her seldom-found ability to be at once forceful and warm, driven and approachable, tenacious yet empathetic... She is a constant for us: in the way that she insists on the highest quality from our vendors and her team; in how she solves problems with grace and humor; and in the way that she takes such immense pride in the books that we produce, and in her people who produce them for us." She also praised Anson for her sense of humor, saying, "She has a distinct ability to keep everyone on track and focused, but still have us laughing the entire time."
Anson began her publishing career in 1977 as a production assistant at then Dial/Delacorte and worked her way through a few other houses and production positions, before coming to Penguin Young Readers 31 years ago.
Nadine Britt will succeed Anson: effective December 15, she becomes v-p, executive director of production, Penguin Young Readers Group. Britt started her career at Crown, and has been at Penguin Young Readers for the past 25 years, working with Anson. Loja said that Britt "has contributed to the development of many different imprints and formats of ours, providing her with the wealth of production experience that she uses every day to lead her team to heights of creativity and innovation."