Penguin Publishing Group has made a series of "major organizational alignments, leadership changes, and promotions [that] draw upon our existing strengths, as well as the experience of many of our longstanding colleagues, and will position us well for future growth," wrote Madeline McIntosh, president of the Penguin Publishing Group, in a memo to staff.
Among the highlights:
|
|
| Madeline Mcintosh (photo: Michael Lionstar) |
|
The Gotham and Hudson Street imprints will be discontinued after this summer, and their future titles and their backlists are moving to other Penguin Group imprints. McIntosh commented that both imprints "have had significant successes since their founding, but today there is too much overlap between their lists and others at Penguin."
The Avery imprint will expand its health-and-wellness publishing program. Editors from Hudson Street Press and Gotham will join Avery.
The Putnam and Dutton imprints will be aligned under a single leadership while maintaining separate editorial departments and distinct publishing lists and identities.
The changes have resulted in many promotions and some departures:
|
|
| Brian Tart (photo: Rich Hasselberger) |
|
Brian Tart has become president and publisher of Viking, relinquishing his duties as president and publisher, Dutton, Gotham and Avery. McIntosh said that during his nine years at the head of Dutton, Tart "has built the imprint's success through a great aptitude for deciding what and how to publish, a close and attentive partnership with his authors and their agents, and a collaborative leadership style that brings out the very best in his entire team."
Clare Ferraro, president, Viking, Plume and Hudson Street Press, is leaving the company at the end of January. McIntosh said Ferraro, who has headed Viking since 1999, "will always have our gratitude for preserving and building on Viking's history, creating a legacy of literary and financial success of which we can all be proud, and which provides a solid foundation for the imprint's future growth."
|
|
| Andrea Schulz (photo: Michael Lionstar) |
|
Andrea Schulz is joining Viking as v-p, editor-in-chief, from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where she was editor-in-chief. McIntosh said that Schulz "has earned tremendous admiration among fiction and nonfiction writers, agents, and her peers for her editorial acumen, taste, and judgment, and as a supportive manager and mentor."
Kate Stark is joining Viking as v-p, associate publisher, and director of marketing. She will continue to perform those duties for Riverhead while relinquishing those duties at Putnam. She is, McIntosh said, "known for her creative, innovative, and very effective marketing leadership."
|
|||
|
|||
Ivan Held, president of G.P. Putnam's Sons, is now president, Putnam and Dutton. McIntosh commented that within Penguin, Held "is particularly valued as a strong team-builder and a strong mentor, helping to increase the capabilities and confidence of staff across a range of disciplines and experience."
Ben Sevier has become v-p, publisher, of Dutton and continues as editor-in-chief. McIntosh called Sevier "an invaluable member of the Dutton team since 2007, respected by colleagues, authors, and agents alike for his proactive, forward-looking approach to achieving success for authors and the house."
Christine Ball, v-p, associate publisher, Dutton, will now serve in the same capacity for both Putnam and Dutton, overseeing both imprints' marketing and publicity teams. McIntosh said that during her time at Dutton, "the imprint has been recognized by agents, authors, media, and booksellers for its creative, innovative, and outstandingly executed marketing and publicity campaigns."
Plume will continue to be headed by editorial director Rachel Bressler, who will now report to David Rosenthal, president and publisher of Blue Rider. The two imprints, McIntosh said, "have often been linked informally through their many hard-soft publishing partnerships. Formalizing this relationship will allow them to benefit from a larger-scaled marketing and publicity team."
Aileen Boyle is expanding her duties to become v-p, associate publisher, director, marketing and publicity, for Blue Rider and Plume; their existing marketing and publicity departments will report to her.
Megan Newman has been promoted to v-p, publisher, Avery Books. McIntosh commented that Newman "and her team at Avery have had an excellent track record over the past few years in particular, selectively publishing just the right books, and bringing them to market with intelligence and passion."
Caroline Sutton will now serve as editor-in-chief at Avery. She formerly led Hudson Street Press.
Brooke Carey has become an editor at Avery. She formerly worked at Gotham.
Lucia Watson has been promoted at Avery to executive editor.
Lindsay Gordon is now marketing and publicity director at Avery.
Charlie Conrad is becoming executive editor at Berkley. He was formerly executive editor at Gotham.
Lauren Marino, v-p, editorial director, Gotham, is leaving the company.
John Fagan, v-p, director of marketing, Penguin, Plume, and Hudson Street Press, will now focus solely on Penguin, including Penguin Classics and the Penguin brand.
Catharine Lynch, senior v-p, director, publishing management, is also now associate publisher, Penguin Publishing Group.
Nancy Sheppard, formerly v-p, marketing director, Viking, has become v-p, director, advertising and promotions, Penguin Publishing Group. McIntosh noted that Sheppard "has brought immense creative flair and excellent execution to Viking's list over the past 14 years."
Allison Dobson has been named to the newly created position of v-p, director, business development and strategy, Penguin Publishing Group. She formerly worked at Random House, where, McIntosh said, she valued Dobson's "business intelligence, her creative instincts, her roll-up-the-sleeves attitude, and her warm, collegial spirit."