Jennifer Bergstrom has been named senior v-p and publisher of the Gallery Books Group, succeeding Louise Burke, who is retiring August 18 as president and publisher of the Gallery Books Group after a 40-year publishing career.
"Those of us who have worked with Jen know her to be an unstoppable force," said Carolyn Reidy, president and CEO of Simon & Schuster, to whom Bergstrom will report. "Her energy, commitment and publishing savvy have been instrumental to Gallery's growth and success, and now she will be applying that formidable drive and knowledge to an even larger and more varied group of imprints and authors in the Gallery Books Group. It will be fun to watch the results."
Bergstrom joined Simon & Schuster in 1998 as editorial director for the launch of the Simon Spotlight imprint. In 2004, she helped create Simon Spotlight Entertainment. In 2009, she was named editor in chief of Gallery Books, when the imprint was formed. She was promoted to publisher in 2013. In 2015, she led the launch of Scout Press.
Louise Burke joined S&S in 2001 as executive v-p and publisher of Pocket Books and in 2009 led the launch of Gallery Books Group, which initially combined Pocket Books and Simon Spotlight Entertainment. She also added imprints, including Karen Hunter Publishing, Jeter Publishing, North Star Way, Scout Press and Threshold Editions.
Carolyn Reidy wrote in part: "While Gallery is well known for its strength in publishing popular culture, women's fiction and media properties, Louise's skills as a general interest publisher encompass a broad range of subjects and authors. Whether building an author's career from novice to bestselling veteran, publishing opportunistically to capitalize on topical events or to capture the momentary zeitgeist or acquiring previously self-published authors such as Lisa Genova and Christina Lauren, Louise's flexibility and strong sense of the publishing market have been the source of numerous long-running, fast-selling or career-making bestsellers. Louise's diverse roster of authors include 50 Cent, Kresley Cole, Catherine Coulter, Clint Hill, Mark R. Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Mary Alice Monroe, Karl Rove, Nikki Sixx and our newest #1 bestselling author, Ruth Ware. And no doubt the most highly ranked in Louise's personal pantheon of most-wanted authors, Derek Jeter!...
"Decisive and direct, Louise has been an outstanding colleague and team player and over the years has contributed mightily to the successes of others. We will miss her enthusiasm and clear-eyed publishing sense, but know that she leaves behind a team of knowledgeable and talented publishing professionals who are more than ready to carry on Gallery's mission of publishing high-quality, entertaining books for an ever-changing audience of readers."
