Mike Bryan, who took over as president and Penguin Canada almost two years ago after the departure of David Davidar, is going to retire from publishing and return to the UK. Nicole Winstanley will take over as president while continuing to serve as publisher as well, and vp of finance and operations Barry Gallant becomes chief operating officer. Bryan says in the announcement, “My decision to leave has been personal and geographical but I leave knowing we have the best team in Canadian publishing and am confident Nicole and Barry will lead Penguin to even bigger and greater achievements.” Bryan will stay on a vice chair of the company until the end of 2012.
David Shanks adds in the press release: “Mike Bryan agreed to come to Penguin Canada at a time when there was a real need for his executive skills. In the time that he has been at the helm, Penguin Canada has flourished. He has overseen significant changes to the company and the company has grown stronger and stronger, culminating in this year’s well-deserved award as Canadian Publisher of the Year. In Nicole Winstanley we have an extremely intelligent and instinctive publishing professional who is poised to take Penguin Canada to the next level of success. ”
Walker Books UK managing director Helen McAleer has been promoted to the new position of chief global development officer for the Walker Books Group worldwide [in the UK, US and Australia/New Zealand], and she will continue to serve as managing director of Walker Productions (which she founded in 2007), with an expanded global agenda there as well. McAleer will develop and lead “the global team responsible for shaping the strategy, forecasts, and delivery for the three Walker Group companies and their properties and products in the development, exploitation, marketing, and sale of auxiliary media rights.”
McAleer continues to report to group managing director (and Candlewick Press president and publisher) Karen Lotz–who is taking on the role of interim UK MD as “she considers how best to lead Walker UK into the next phase of its development.”
At Princeton University Press, Brigitta van Rheinberg is now assistant director in addition to her role as editor-in-chief, also continuing to acquire books in history. Seth Ditchik has been promoted to group publisher for the behavioral and life sciences and Rob Tempio to group publisher for the humanities. Robert Kirk becomes publisher of field guides and natural history. Fred Appel and Ingrid Gnerlich have both been promoted to executive editor and Alison Kalett to senior editor. Anne Savarese has a new role as backlist editor in addition to her role as reference editor.