The winding down of Byliner.com continues with the departure of co-founder and ceo John Tayman. He told contributors in an email on Sunday, “I’ve stepped down as Byliner’s CEO, but I’ll be forever thankful for the opportunity to work with and for you,” the NY Observer reports. Tayman is the one who, when we queried him in early May about reports that Byliner was looking for a buyer and would have to wind down within a month or so if no purchaser came forward, declined to respond and reportedly instructed staff to keep quiet. Co-founder Mark Bryant left the company in late May.
Carolyn Foley has joined Penguin Random House as vp, associate general counsel, with primary responsibility for legal work on behalf of the Random House publishing division. She also will be actively involved in the management of the company’s litigation matters. Foley spent the past dozen years as a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine.
At the National Book Foundation, Leslie Shipman has been promoted to assistant director.
Allison Finkel has joined Perseus Books Group as academic marketing manager. Previously she was assistant marketing manager at Oxford University Press.
Stephanie Hoover joins HarperCollins Children’s Books as Associate Publicist. Previously she worked at Trident Media Group focusing middle grade and YA titles.
In the UK, Simon & Schuster publishing director for non-fiction Mike Jones is leaving the company on June 20 after more than six years. Jones told the Bookseller: “I shall be sad to leave some very good friends and valued colleagues behind, and some brilliant authors and their fantastic books. I’m going to do some structural editing work and consultancy on a freelance basis over the summer. After 20 years in publishing I am also looking forward to spending a little more time with my young family.”
Jane Starr Literary Scouts has been appointed US scout for RBA Libros S.A. for Spanish and Catalan languages.