HarperCollins announced “some significant changes in our sales organization to help our company compete and thrive in this rapidly evolving marketplace” that include “a more streamlined and flatter sales management team as we assess the radically changing book industry landscape.” As a result Ken Berger, Mike Brennan, Mark Hillesheim, Kathy Smith and Jeanette Zwart, hailed as “respected and beloved colleagues,” will leave the company on July 20. VP, director of distributor sales Jeff Rogartwill retire at the end of August after 18 years at Harper: “Jeff’s unique combination of deep industry knowledge, direct style and kind charm has earned him the respect and love from colleagues both inside and outside the company. He will be truly missed.” Additionally, vp of customer service Dan Holod and director of customer service Gail Kunda are also retiring next month.
As of July, Harper is integrating their pricing, promotional, market insight and sales analytics efforts into the sales department under Josh Marwell. Frank
Albanese move to sales in the new role of svp, market insight and sales operations. He will “focus on helping the company make sense of consumer behavior both digital and print, providing insight into sales and market trends as well as take on the overall direction of day-to-day sales operations.” Albanese and svp, sales analytics and pricing Dan Lubart will report to Marwell (though Albanese continues to report to Larry Nevins for his supply chain responsibilties.) As ceo Brian Murray explains in a separate memo, “Frank will focus on helping the company make sense of sales information.” He also explains that “to shift the business for maximum success in the future, we are changing the sales organization to better integrate marketing, sales and analysis.”
Doug Jones takes the expanded role of svp, group sales director for general books, responsible for overall sales strategy while also directing the daily print business with Amazon. Mary Beth Thomas takes the new role of vp, deputy director of sales and Kerry Moynagh is now vp, deputy director sales for children’s books.
Murray’s memo reviews a variety of “new programs and…significant enhancements to our capabilities” the company has made over the last year–most recently with their global Harper 360 publishing program–“to ensure that our authors’ works achieve maximum reach and awareness.” Murray notes that “during this time of great change, HarperCollins must continue to innovate to meet and exceed marketplace demands. By doing so, we can be the best partner to our authors, cultivate the strongest content and make it available to readers in all formats, in all channels, in all markets around the world.”