President and publisher of Picador and editor-at-large at Macmillan Frances Coady will be leaving the company as part of an editorial restructuring of the paperback imprint, according to a company-wide memo sent by ceo John Sargent late Thursday to staff (and confirmed to us Friday.) "Over time," Sargent wrote, "the Picador list has largely gravitated toward FSG, and more recently Holt. At the same time, we have seen shifts in the distribution of Picador paperbacks. The structural/financial model, constructed in another time, has become less meaningful. So we need to change, and to reinvigorate Picador."
As a result, going forward Picador staff will report to FSG publisher Jonathan Galassi and Holt publisher Steve Rubin in what Sargent said would "clarify hardcover/paperback editorial responsibility for key titles" and give the originating publishers "greater control" and Picador a "stronger marketing focus." Sargent added that he "cannot stress enough that SMP books can continue to be featured in Picador when it makes sense. In fact I hope these changes will make that more likely, not less."
Coady joined Picador in 2000 and began acquiring hardcover titles for Holt (under the Frances Coady Books imprint), Metropolitan, and FSG in 2007. She has published authors including Naomi Klein, Richard Powers, Paul Auster, Siri Hustvedt, Andrea Levy, Joseph O'Connor, and Alan Bennett.
Coady's last day at Macmillan is March 2, after which she will work with Macmillan in an independent freelance editorial capacity "while also being free to pursue new publishing projects here and in the UK."
Stephanie Selah is rejoining HarperCollins on February 21 as senior marketing manager, overseeing marketing campaigns across all Harper imprints. She was most recently marketing manager at Palgrave Macmillan and first worked in marketing at HarperPerennial, Harper Paperbacks, and Avon Trade Paperbacks.
Anthony Mattero has joined Vigliano Associates as an agent. He moves over from Alan Nevins' Renaissance Literary & Talent where he had been working since 2007. Making the move with him are his clients, Emmy winner Teresa Strasser, actress/neuroscientist Mayim Bialik and emerging humorists Allie Hagan and Chelsea Fagan. At Vigliano Associates Anthony will continue to represent platform driven fiction and non-fiction.
Ali McDonald has been promoted to full agent at The Rights Factory.
Brenna Barr has joined Dystel and Goderich Literary Management as royalties manager.
At Random House Canada, Frances Bedford has been promoted to associate publicity director and Valentina Capuani moves up to senior production coordinator.
