Current managing director of Random House Struik in South Africa Steve Connolly is now set to become MD of the combined Penguin Random House South Africa, and will take on additional leadership of Penguin Books South Africa during the integration process. Penguin SA finance director Claire Grant will take on similar groupwide responsibility, and will direct the integration of all finance, operations and IT functions. CEO, Penguin Random House International Ian Hudson noted that current Penguin Books SA Stephen Johnson “has agreed to stay on in this position until the middle of 2014 to help with the transition. I would […]
Archives for March 2014
Profits Flat at Lagardere Publishing
As is their tradition, Lagardere followed up the headline reporting of 2013 sales from with additional reporting on their profits. On the already noted sales of €2.066 billion for Lagardere Publishing, recurring EBIT was flat at €223 million. Because sales fell 10 million euros, and EBIT was up €6 million under the hypothetical constant exchange rate, they celebrate that “publishing successfully raised its operating margin.” Outside of operating profits, however, Lagardere took a €24 million impairment charge in the publishing division, “especially on Partworks in Spain.” US profit “was significantly higher thanks to several best-sellers and the positive effects of growth […]
DiPreta to Lead New Hachette Books Division
Mauro DiPreta will join Hachette Book Group on March 31 as publisher of their new nonfiction-focused Hachette Books line, built on top of the recently-acquired Hyperion backlist and designed to cover “a broad spectrum of subjects and interests.” Most recently he has been editor in chief of Crown Archetype. DiPreta will “be responsible for the division’s direction and publishing” and will join HBG’s Executive Management Board, and report to ceo Michael Pietsch. The current Hyperion staff will become part of Hachette Books and report to DiPreta, with additional staff hired “as necessary.” Interim publisher Martha Levin will complete her assignment […]
Announcements: Microsoft Moves to Pearson; Amazon Publishing in Germany; and More
Microsoft Press will work with Pearson for global distribution of their print and ebooks as of April 1. They will also jointly launch microsoftpressstore.com the same month. Microsoft had been distributed by O’Reilly Media, as part of a broader strategic relationship between the two. Last September, Microsoft Press announced that they were taking back editorial and publishing functions for the business from O’Reilly but continuing to work with them on marketing, sales and distribution. Amazon Publishing is expanding their connection to the German market, led by publisher Sarah Tomashek and a Munich-based team, which is acquiring German-language fiction. The spring 2014 launch […]
People, Etc.
After acquiring Constable & Robinson in February, Little Brown UK is in “consultation” (the required discussion process when a job is being eliminated) with approximately half the unit’s staff of 41 people. The Bookseller says the positions are primarily in sales, marketing and production. A spokesperson for Hachette tells the magazine, “Where a job is made redundant, we will do our utmost to find an alternative, either in Little, Brown or Hachette.” That person confirms that “just over 20” positions are in consultation. Henry Sene Yee has been named creative director of Flatiron Books, in addition to his current role as creative […]
eNews: Mondadori Takes Over Anobii, Plus Indie Links for LAT and A Rooster
Sainsbury’s has passed on the social network part of Anobii (a European Bookish, with all that implies), to Mondadori. Despite Anobii’s multi-year efforts to build a viable ebookstore focused on the UK, the site’s strength — if there was one — was an international audience centered in Asia (since it was founded in Hong Kong in 2006) and Italy (Anobii was run for many years by Italian-born Matteo Berlucchi). Mondadori says in the release that Anobii’s “strongest base” is Italy, “with 300,000 users.” Mondadori Group chief executive Ernesto Mauri says, “A platform that will enable us to listen to people is […]