Nan Graham has been promoted to svp, publisher of Scribner, reporting to Scribner Publishing Group president Susan Moldow. “As if Nan hadn’t amply proven how deserved this promotion is by her firm hand in shaping the list and staff and insuring the growth of the Scribner imprint over the last eighteen years, her performance of late surely demonstrates that she continues to exercise her singular editorial instincts, abilities, and leadership qualities at the highest levels,” Moldow said in the announcement. “[Graham’s] tireless work and shining insights for every book on the Scribner list have made Nan’s contribution to the success of the imprint paramount.”
Simon & Schuster ceo Carolyn Reidy added: “One of the great benefits of creating our new publishing organization is that it allows us to give Nan Graham, the very model of an outstanding editor and publishing executive, an even greater role at Scribner. All of us at S&S and throughout our industry have marveled at how she has led the editorial team these many years, and are eager to see her at the helm.”
Liz Van Doren has been promoted to editorial director, book publishing at Highlights for Children and Boyds Mills Press.
Ricardo Costa is joining the Frankfurt Book Fair in the new position of regional director, Brazil and South America, to “pursue new business opportunities in the region.” They say it is “the first step in establishing a permanent office in Sao Paulo.” Brazil will be the guest of honor at the 2013 Frankfurt show.
In the UK, Ed Ripley will join Walker Books next spring as UK sales & marketing director and group export sales director. Previously he was sales director, children’s books at Pan Macmillan.
At Orion, Jane Sturrock has been promoted to editorial director, non-fiction.
Louise Brice will join Blake Friedmann in mid-January as foreign rights, digital and audio manager.
Dalkey Archive announced that they have “begun the process of succession from the founder and current publisher, John O’Brien, to a publishing house that will be directed by two-three people along with support staff.”
The American Booksellers Association offices are closing Thursday afternoon, as the organization prepares to relocate from Tarrytown to White Plains. “The offices are expected to reopen on or about Wednesday, December 19.” They note “there will be an interruption in phone service during this time,” and when the ABA reopens, they will have a new phone number.
Matriarch of Berteslmann’s controlling family Liz Mohn issued her first public comments about the impending merger between Penguin and Random House in an interview in the Telegraph. “Books do mean a lot to me: Bertelsmann grew big on books, and I myself grew up with them,” Mohn said, We will continue to publish books for a mass public as well as works for smaller readerships. The planned combination will give authors from all genres even more publishing options for the success of their books.” Mohn added that she expects ebooks to “coexist comfortably” with printed books going forward as well.