James Jordan will retire as president and director of Columbia University Press in September after more than nine years. During his tenure CUP launched the Columbia Business School Publishing imprint, developed a new book series with the Columbia Journalism Review, and reinvested in life science publishing, economics, recent American history, and international affairs publishing. "Jim has been a very effective steward at the Press during the last nine years," said Columbia provost John Coatsworth in the announcement. "We are truly indebted to him for the professionalism and vigor that he brought to the table, both as an editor and as a colleague who helped guide so many authors, bringing their ideas and words to life on the printed page and beyond." The provost "will be working with the board of the Press to ensure a smooth transition to fill this position."
Former Grove/Atlantic coo and associate publisher Eric Price will join Quercus as director of sales, marketing and publicity, working out of the company's New York office in advance of the fall 2013 launch of its US list.
Emi Ikkanda has been promoted to associate editor at Holt and Times Books.
Jonathan Ackerman has been named national account manager at Bookmasters. Previously he was an account manager at F+W media.
Elinor Cooper has joined Rochelle Stevens & Co. as an agent. Previously she was at AP Watt.
PFD has acquired a 90 percent stake in the Georges Simenon Estate, the last of the author brands still in play following the bankruptcy of previous owner Chorion Ltd. The Telegraph reports that Simenon's son John will retain a 10 percent stake in the estate, while Penguin UK plans to publish Simenon's entire Maigret series (of 75 titles) beginning this fall, with audiobook rights sold to Audible.
Verso Press will be distributed by Random House Publisher Services as of July 1, 2013. They were previously distributed in the US by Norton and in Canada by Penguin.
Rosetta Books is opening a UK office in London, the Bookseller reports, run by Jonathan Ward.
Egmont UK is adding a nonfiction children's imprint Red Shed, launching in spring 2014. It will be run by Melissa Fairley.
Former Navy SEAL and author of AMERICAN SNIPER and the forthcoming AMERICAN GUN Chris Kyle, 38, was killed Saturday afternoon at a gun range in Texas along with another man. A suspect has been arrested, though the motive for the killings remains unclear.
