Hector Sierra has been promoted to general manager and svp for National Geographic’s book publishing group, responsible for overseeing business operations and global sales for all categories of National Geographic’s trade and digital books. He was chief operating officer for the division, having joined National Geographic in 2000.
F+W Media group marketing director Kate Rados was one of two people honored as MinOnline’s marketers of the year.
Robert Wheaton will join Random House Canada in the newly created position of vp, director, strategic business development, reporting to ceo Brad Martin. Wheaton was previously director of inventory management for Indigo Books & Music.
Random House Inc.’s international sales group is enhancing its presence in East Asia. John Sakal has been hired as regional sales director, starting November 28, succeeding Rino Balatbat. He has been president of Planetdash Media, an Asian-centric wholesaler of English-language titles.
Mindy Chon is being promoted to regional sales manager, East Asia, covering Hong Kong,Taiwan, and, in January, South Korea, taking over for Katherine Lee. Akiko Iwamoto, regional sales manager, based in Tokyo, will newly focus on Japan in January, and Eve Zhang will join the company, based in Beijing.
Kelvin Kong has returned to The Rights Factory, now as foreign rights manager. Previously he was a foreign rights associate at Kids Can Press and before then, an associate in foreign rights at TRF.
Lulu.com will make available its catalog of self-published works to Barnes & Noble’s Nook platform.