The Frankfurt Book Fair's office in New York, first known as the German Book Office when it opened 22 years ago and then called Frankfurt Book Fair New York, is closing at the end of the year, a casualty of budget cuts faced by the fair because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Publishing Perspectives reported. The fair will continue conducting cultural projects to promote German literature in the U.S. in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut in New York City.
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| Thomas Minkus | |
As a result of the closing, the office's managing director, Thomas Minkus, is leaving, and Riky Stock, who has been an integral part of the operation since joining in 2002, is becoming managing director of NorthSouth Books, the U.S. division of NordSüd Verlag, effective January 1.
Publishing Perspectives, which has been published from the New York office, will continue with Hannah Johnson as publisher and Porter Anderson as editor-in-chief.
Frankfurt Book Fair president and CEO Juergen Boos thanked Minkus for having "led a strong team at the New York office, and he has played a vital role in managing our business in the English-speaking world. As the managing director of IPR License, Thomas has played a pivotal role in growing this business and forming strong and important partnerships in China, USA, and Europe."
Minkus thanked "the team in New York: Michelle Claussen, Hannah Johnson, Raquel Plitt, and Riky Stock for their achievements and outstanding service and commitment over many years. It was a privilege to work with all of them. I would like to wish them good luck and best wishes for their future endeavors." He may be reached via e-mail.
Riky Stock said about NorthSouth: "I have always admired their great list of German, international, and American writers and illustrators and I am looking forward to this new challenge. After 18-plus years at the German Book Office/Frankfurt Book Fair New York, this is a big step and I am going to miss the people I had the pleasure of getting to know over the years and the exciting projects I was involved in."