Ruth Liebmann, v-p, account marketing, at Random House, is expanding her role to include Penguin. As v-p, account marketing, Penguin Random House, she will "provide the same critical support to the Penguin Publishing Group with our independent booksellers as she does currently for the Random House divisions," Jaci Updike, president of sales, Penguin Random House said in an announcement. Liebmann "will supplement the ongoing efforts of the Penguin Random House field reps and their managers, whose account responsibilities and duties remain unchanged."
After working as a bookseller in New York City, Liebmann joined Random House in 1995 as a Manhattan sales rep. She has held several other positions since then and has become, Updike added, "an important resource for our independent accounts, as both an unflagging in-house proponent for their needs, as well as a persuasive early advocate who rallies them in support of our publishers' books. Her expert insights into the indie marketplace are a tremendous advantage for our publishing and rep colleagues, and have been invaluable in advancing our integration efforts."
Liebmann will now be the company's primary contact with the American Booksellers Association and Indie Next, as well as with all regional bookseller associations and their marketing programs. She maintains her oversight of the Random House Events Department. Working with Penguin and Random House sales and publishing staff, she will help develop and implement strategies for the company's increasing range of initiatives, programs and trade conferences, which include enhancing and streamlining sales communications internally as well as bookseller-directed outreach. Most important, Updike said, Liebmann will work closely with company reps to help craft plans for building even stronger relationships with individual booksellers and with the bookselling channel overall.