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People, Etc.

March 12, 2012
By Michael Cader

Former Macmillan president Brian Napack will join media private equity firm Providence Equity Partners as a senior advisor.  He will also join the board of educational software company Blackboard, Inc. Napack “will work with Providence to identify and manage new investment opportunities in education and media and to support the firm’s existing portfolio companies.” He left Macmillan at the end of 2011.

Managing Director and head of Providence’s education practice Peter Wilde says, “Brian has an exceptional track record of launching and leading businesses operating at the intersection of technology and media, education and entertainment, an area where we are also very focused. We share the same belief in the tremendous benefit that this convergence can have in addressing the increasing demands of consumers, educators and students around the world.” Napack observes, “An unusual opportunity exists in today’s markets to create a new generation of great media and education companies.”

Becker&mayer! Books co-founder Andy Mayer will retire from the company, including stepping down role as publisher of the Epic Ink unit on March 21. He says in the announcement, “While I will miss my many friends and colleagues at becker&mayer! and throughout our wonderful industry, I am also excited about what the future may hold. I am pleased to see this company I started so many years ago continue to thrive with countless new projects slated for 2012 and beyond, and I know I am leaving it in good hands.” Jim Becker remains in place as president and rublisher of beckerandmayer!, the role he assumed in early 2011.

Random House’s Author Portal went live Monday, ceo Markus Dohle told authors in a letter, providing information about sales, royalties and rights deals. It includes downloadable royalty statements, and a listing of all subsidiary rights deals negotiated by the publisher for an author’s works. The portal also provides online marketing tools and resources, publishing industry news, and “a significant discount” on all Random House books.

At the end of March, Lindsay Mergens is leaving Nelson Literary Agency to pursue freelance opportunities. Joining the agency is Adrienne Sparks, former associate director of marketing at Doubleday.

Chronicle Books has hired Paul Gore as CIO. He previously worked at Hachette in the IT department.

Joy Azmitia will join FinePrint Literary Management as an agent on March 19. In additional to building her list in literary fiction, women’s fiction, and narrative non-fiction in the areas of history, spirituality, food, and wine (and representation of existing clients), she will serve as contracts manager and lead FinePrint’s Digital Rights Management team. Previously she was a junior agent at Russell & Volkening.

In the UK, Ariella Feiner, Katy Jones and Wendy Millyard have all been promoted to associate agent at United Agents, and Zoe Ross has been promoted to agent.

Author and editor Rakesh Satyal has relocated to San Francisco to join Lexicon Branding (the company profiled by John Colapinto in The New Yorker last fall as having named the BlackBerry and other products).

At Abrams, Michelle Montague has joined the company as executive director of adult marketing and publicity, reporting to vp of sales and marketing Mary Wowk. She was executive director of advertising and promotions at Simon & Schuster. Eric Klopfer has been promoted to editor.

At Kensington, Gary Goldstein has been promoted to executive editor, and Martin Biro has been promoted to assistant editor.

At Globe Pequot Press, Chris Grimm has been promoted to vp of sales, managing national accounts, outdoor markets, and the distribution business across all GPP imprints.

Meredith Kessler will join Milkweed Editions as publicist on April 2. Most recently she was associate publicist at Farrar, Straus. She fills the slot vacated by Ethan Rutherford last year (and he now manages events at Magers and Quinn bookstore).

Bookmasters will sell and distribute for the Assemblies of God’s major publishing imprints, Gospel Publishing House, Influence Resources, and Life Publishers.

Filed Under: Distribution, Free, Personnel

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