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Reagan Arthur, executive v-p and publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, and Lisa Lucas, senior v-p and publisher, Pantheon Schocken, are both leaving the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group at Penguin Random House.
With their departures, Jordan Pavlin has been promoted to executive v-p, publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, in addition to her role as editor-in-chief, and will now manage the entire Knopf editorial department as well as Schocken editorial. Pantheon editorial now reports to Denise Oswald, v-p, editorial director, who will newly report to Bill Thomas, executive v-p, publisher & editor-in-chief, Doubleday.
In an announcement to staff, Group president and publisher Maya Mavjee said the realignment is "necessary for our future growth. Our new structure--consisting of a nimble, concentrated leadership team--will enable us to meet the trials of an ever-shifting marketplace, hone the shape and focus of our imprints, and continue to allow us to do what we do best: publish great books."
Mavjee called Pavlin "the ideal person" to lead Knopf. "The list of bestselling Knopf authors she has edited is a who's who of American letters: Kaveh Akbar, Nathan Englander, Yaa Gyasi, Ayana Mathis, Maggie O'Farrell, Tommy Orange, Karen Russell, Maggie Shipstead, Michelle Zauner, and many more over the course of her 30-year career."
In February 2020, Arthur became senior v-p and publisher of Knopf, Pantheon, and Schocken, succeeding Sonny Mehta, who died in December 2019 and had identified her as his first choice for the role. Earlier, Arthur had worked at Little, Brown for 19 years, founding the Reagan Arthur Books imprint in 2010 and becoming senior v-p and publisher in 2013.
Jordan Pavlin |
Mavjee noted that in the last four years, Arthur had spearheaded publication of such books as Cormac McCarthy's last two novels, The Passenger and Stella Maris; Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow; and Jayne Anne Phillips's Night Watch. She also personally edited Bono's memoir, Surrender; Ian McEwan's Lessons, and Nathan Hill's Wellness.
Lisa Lucas joined the company at the end of 2020 after serving as executive director of the National Book Foundation for five years.
Mavjee said that "among Lisa's many accomplishments at Pantheon" include publishing "a wide array of bestselling and critically acclaimed books that have shaped the cultural conversation," including Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah; Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell; Charlie Hustle by Keith O'Brien; Helen Garner's The Children's Bach, Monkey Grip, and This House of Grief; and the titles in the Pantheon graphic novels program.