Chantal Restivo- Alessi has joined HarperCollins as chief digital officer, reporting to Brian Murray, and filling the position vacated by Charlie Redmayne when he joined Pottermore. She will also sit on the company’s executive committee. In her new role, Restivo-Alessi, most recently head of media corporate finance at ING Bank in London, will be responsible for leading the overall global digital strategy for the company, manage the commercial relationships with existing and new digital partners, and grow the digital revenues worldwide, working closely with all the divisions of the company worldwide. Leslie Hulse, svp digital business development, will report to Restivo-Alessi.
Murray said in a statement: “Her extensive expertise in strategy development and execution, as well as change management in the media space, makes her a perfect fit for HarperCollins as we look to expand the strategic partnerships required to grow in the future.”
With the Disney Publishing Worldwide unit preparing to relocate to California, president Russell Hampton told employees in an e-mail that he will leave his position on May 4, PW reports. Hampton called the move “a natural transition point for me to pass on the mantle of leadership.”
At Yale University Press, Steve Wasserman expands his position as executive editor-at-large for general interest books to a full-time role. Wasserman was most recently an agent and partner at Kneerim and Williams.
Michelle Witte has joined Mansion Street Literary Management as an agent, specializing in middle grade and young adult fiction. She was most recently an editor at Gibbs Smith, where she oversaw creation, editing, and production of more than thirty titles, including children’s activity, humor, gift, cookbooks, and how-to titles.
At Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ann-Marie Pucillo has been promoted to vp, executive managing editor, now overseeing ebook editorial operations for the adult and children’s imprints. She remains executive managing editor for the children’s book group as well.
Also at HMH, Mary Huot has been promoted to managing editor; and Sarah Iani has been promoted to associate production editor in the adult trade group.
At Harlequin, Jessica Rosenberg has been promoted to associate publicist.
Alexandra Bolton is joining Oldcastle Books in the UK as marketing manager, overseeing sales, marketing and pr campaigns for their five imprints (No Exit Press, Kamera Books, Pocket Essentials, Creative Essentials and Highstakes).
Owner of The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL Roberta Rubin is “plotting an exit strategy,” she tells the Sun Times. Contrary to other reports, Rubin says for now the store is “not up for sale,” adding “I’m talking to people who might be interested in buying it, but I’m still making that decision.” She says “I would want someone who really wants to dig in and run the store” and notes “by this summer, I’ll be actively looking for someone.”
Odyssey Bookshop co-owner Neil Novik will retire after almost fourteen years helping to run the bookstore, though he said in an email to customers that he will still work one day a week at Odyssey through the spring and summer to help the new textbook manager prepare for the fall semester.