After 13 years as president and publisher of Random House Children's Books, Barbara Marcus is stepping down, and Mallory Loehr, executive v-p and publisher, Random House Books for Young Readers Group, will become president of Random House Children's Books. Both moves are effective May 1.
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| Barbara Marcus (Ben Asen Photography) |
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Before joining Random House in 2012, Marcus was a consultant for seven years, and earlier was at Scholastic for 22 years, part of that time as president of children's book publishing and distribution. Among other accomplishments at Scholastic, she directed the acquisition of the Harry Potter series and the publication of the first six books in the series.
In a memo to staff about the changes, Penguin Random House CEO Nihar Malaviya wrote in part about Marcus, "Throughout these years, I have been impressed by the breadth of her experience and knowledge, her drive to always improve and do better, her energy to pursue new ideas and challenge the status quo, and her incredible network--she knows literally everyone in children's publishing. She is always seeking out new opportunities and pathways to publish and to reach young readers. Barbara's boundless curiosity, drive, and leadership have been a constant force in her extraordinary career, and propelled Random House Children's Books to new heights.
"In partnership with her strong and seasoned team, Barbara consistently grew the revenue and profit of RHCB throughout her tenure. Her sharp eye on the market led to the launch of new imprints and growth in picture books, middle grade, nonfiction, graphic novels, diverse voices, and young adult romance, and to the development of franchises and brands with wide consumer appeal....
"Barbara's unparalleled focus is matched in strength by her steadfast dedication to creating books for all readers. She has long been motivated by the belief that it matters not what a child reads but simply that we get them reading and meet them wherever they are with a story that has the chance to turn them into lifelong readers. This is a mission that has inspired her both professionally and personally. Over the years, she has devoted herself to many charitable organizations whose work centers on child literacy, education, and welfare."
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| Mallory Loehr (Ben Asen Photography) |
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Mallory Loehr has been at Random House Children's Books for more than 30 years. Malaviya wrote in part, "Mallory has played a seminal role in the development of this business. She embodies creativity and open-mindedness and leads with an innate warmth that brings people together, making her a trusted and reliable partner to so many across the company. Mallory and I connected over our commitment to learning and growing, deep thinking and reflecting, and exploring new ideas. She's a homegrown talent who truly believes in constantly evolving our approach to work in a way that can change cultures and thinking....
"If you have met Mallory, you know that she has an infectious love for children's books, that she is passionate about supporting the talent that creates them, and that she is equally passionate about supporting the teams of colleagues that bring them to market. Mallory is uniquely committed to the people she works with--to their potential, growth, and success."