Ingram Content Group has bolstered their executive ranks following the departure of ceo Skip Prichard, who was replaced in that post by John Ingram. Shawn Morin has been promoted to chief operating officer, effective immediately, in charge of managing the company’s commercial activities (including the divisions that serve publishers, libraries, booksellers and educators), systems, and operations. He joined the company in 2009 as chief information officer, after serving as CIO at Bass Pro Shops. Finance, legal and human resources will continue to report to Mr. Ingram.
Ingram notes in the announcement: “Over the past three years, Shawn has done a great job restructuring our systems, both to serve our customers ever-better and also help ensure Ingram’s leadership position in an ever-changing industry. In particular, he has been our aggressive leader in the growth of VitalSource, which is the most utilized e-textbook platform in education today. Shawn is well prepared to help me and our leadership team execute the vision of where Ingram Content Group is heading in the next period.”
Sheila O’Shea has been named associate publisher, Broadway Books and Hogarth Paperbacks, reporting to Molly Stern. In her new role, which she starts on June 25, O’Shea will help devise and implement Crown’s “frontlist paperback publishing strategy as well as in identifying and maximizing backlist opportunities and will work closely with our dedicated trade paperback editorial, marketing, and publicity teams in executing publishing plans.”
In a statement Stern said that O’Shea “brings to her new role a breadth of experience, intelligence, and creativity as well as an informed and pragmatic understanding of our changing marketplace. She has longstanding productive relationships with many of the literary agents who represent our authors and these connections will be expanded with her new responsibilities.” In addition, Meagan Stacey has been promoted to senior editor, reporting to O’Shea.
Sue Fletcher will retire from Hodder & Stoughton at the end of the year after more than 40 years in publishing. She helped co-found Headline in 1986 before moving to Hodder in 1993, first as deputy managing director and more recently in an untitled, at-large editorial position, where she edited authors including Tana French, Rosamunde Pilcher, and John Connolly. Once Fletcher leaves the company the editorial staff will be restructured at a later date.
In a statement Hodder ceo Tim Hely Hutchinson commented on working with Fletcher for more than 30 years: “Sue was the key figure in Hodder’s renaissance as it set its sights on becoming the most brilliant publisher of brilliant authors. Since 2002 she has withdrawn from day-to-day management to concentrate on publishing a superb list of authors. Sue sets the platinum standard for the qualities that make a great editor and a fabulous colleague, supporting her authors in every imaginable way and, less publicly, providing Jamie Hodder-Williams, Martin Neild, many other colleagues and, for the longest time, me, with constant good-humoured encouragement, advice, good food, good reading and good fun.”
Fletcher added: “I have spent more than 40 years in this amazing business, and have been especially lucky in my Hodder and Headline colleagues and the wonderful authors I have worked with. Leaving them will be a wrench, but 62¾ feels like the right age to make a change. I plan to spend even more time at the theatre, in the kitchen and beating Martin Neild to hot new restaurants.”
Lynn Rosen has been named content director for Book Business and Publishing Executive magazines. She was most recently director of graduate publishing programs at Rosemont College in Bryn Mawr, PA and is also the founder and director of Open Book, a continuing education program of book classes and author events. In addition, Brian Howard has been promoted to group digital director for both magazines, having previously served as editor-in-chief. In his new role Howard will contribute to the brands’ overall digital strategy, including publishing news and commentary online and e-newsletter Publishing Business Today. He will also be responsible for analyzing and tracking all online metrics and managing a growing network of bloggers.”
Anna Funder has won the Miles Franklin Prize for her debut novel ALL THAT I AM (Harper).