Kristin Kiser will join Running Press on May 20 as vp and publisher. Most recently, she was vp and deputy publisher at Rodale Books. Kiser will report to Perseus Books Group group publisher Susan Weinberg. She fills the role that was vacated in October 2014.
Perseus CEO David Steinberger says in the announcement: “We have great ambitions for our publishing programs. Hiring Kristin Kiser to lead Running Press is another key step in taking our publishing to the next level.”
In the UK, Malcolm Edwards will step down as deputy CEO and publisher of Orion at the end of 2015 and will become chairman of Gollancz and consultant publisher at Orion. Orion CEO David Young says: “Malcolm and I have been discussing for some time his desire to work a flexible week which will give him the freedom to work on fewer projects close to his heart.” Young adds, “Malcolm is a remarkable publisher. He is a formidable judge of publishing talent…. He has been a generous guide and mentor to many of the brightest editors and publishers in the industry. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his enormous contribution to Orion so far and in the years to come.”
In other personnel news, Emily Logan has joined Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as specialty retail sales manager. She was previously sales & marketing director at America’s Test Kitchen.
Derek Reed has been promoted to associate editor for Crown Business, Crown Forum and Convergent.
Renamed
The book and bookazine division formerly known as Time Home Entertainment, Inc. (or TIHE) is officially changing its name to Time Inc. Books. They will debut their new logo at BEA. The TIHE imprint will be renamed Liberty Street — for the new address of Time Inc. corporate office — and Oxmoor House will continue as its own imprint within Time Inc. Books.
Distribution
University Press of New England will handle sales & distribution for the Warring States Project.
Initiatives
As part of Independent Bookstore Day on May 2, HarperCollins is partnering with rideshare company Lyft to bring readers to stores in Seattle, Chicago, and San Francisco. Anyone requesting a ride to more than 40 participating stores will receive a free goodie bag upon arriving at their destination. Goodie bags contain HarperCollins galley, book-related items from HarperCollins such as posters, temporary tattoos, stickers and a notepad, and more.
Closed
Rakuten reported on Tuesday that the company has closed their $410 million acquisition of OverDrive.