Kobo executive Michael Tamblyn was promoted recently to the new position chief content officer for the ebookseller, and that move was officially announced today. He is responsible for Kobo’s content acquisition and sales, publisher and industry relations, and localized merchandising experiences across all of their services. CEO Michael Serbinis says in the announcement: “Michael Tamblyn’s leadership in the industry and his hands-on approach to working with publishers and authors has been instrumental to Kobo’s success. In his new role, he will continue to grow our existing catalogue and drive Kobo’s expansion into new content categories.”
Rebecca Strauss will be moving to DeFiore and Company as an agent. She has been at McIntosh & Otis since 2005 as an agent and director of subsidiary rights.
Kate Stark has been promoted to associate publisher for Putnam and Riverhead, which “recognizes her importance to both our imprints,” while continuing to serve as director of marketing. (She moved over to the imprints’ marketing department from Avery in 2007.)
Separately, the Penguin trade paperback marketing group that incorporates all Berkley, NAL, Perigee, and Riverhead imprints and books announced some recent promotions and changes. Colleen Lindsay has been named associate director of marketing, social media and reader experience, a newly created position for amplifying traditional media efforts through social media, elevating the division’s presence at reader events, and further developing philanthropic partnerships. Lindsay was most recently community manager for Penguin’s Book Country, and will continue as a strategic advisor.
In addition, as part of organizational changes that now designate dedicated marketing personnel for each imprint, Ashley Fisher-Tranese has been promoted to associate director of advertising and promotion; Craig Burke moves up to vp, director of marketing for Riverhead Trade Paperbacks and Perigee Books, while remaining executive director of publicity; Erica Colon Martirano has been promoted to associate director of marketing and promotion, focusing on the Berkley imprints; while Jodi Rosoff moves up to associate director of marketing and publicity for NAL.
At Crown, Nidhi Berry has been promoted to assistant manager, subsidiary rights, continuing to report to Linda Kaplan.
Daniel O’Connor has joined The Experiment, in the newly created position of associate publisher. Previously he was managing editor at Melville House. In addition, Karen Giangreco has been promoted to digital publishing manager.