Rich Freese will take over from Jed Lyons as president of NBN as of July 6, working out of Oakland, CA. Lyons will “focus on the book publishing activities of NBN’s parent company, The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.” (The release says NBN had sales of $100 million, and R&L had sales of $60 million.)
Most recently Freese had launched a new distribution enterprise for BookMasters, though he worked at NBN in the late 90s and through 2002. Lyons says in the announcement “Rich Freese is the most knowledgeable, thoughtful, and creative person I know in the book distribution business.”
Michael Tamblyn is leaving BookNet Canada to join Indigo’s Shortcovers as vp, content, sales and merchandising. Booknet Canada technology director Noah Genner will take over as president and ceo of the organization.
Former former publisher and sales and marketing director at Finland’s WSOY Elina Ahlback has started an eponymous literary agency, representing authors, foreign publishers, and agents in Scandinavian markets as well as representing Scandinavian authors. The Elina Ahlback Literary Agency Oy has been named exclusive sub-agent for Bloomsbury USA/Walker in Scandinavia.