Penguin Random House US president and coo Madeline McIntosh will take over responsibility for all adult publishing at the Penguin Group as president of a newly-created, consolidated Penguin Publishing Group. The previous division between the Penguin and Berkley/NAL groups will go away as the two are united “under a single guiding vision and leadership structure,” Penguin Random House ceo Markus Dohle writes. He says, “the time is right to create a one-leader management structure for the entire Penguin adult business, while also maintaining the identity of each of its individual publishing imprints.”
With McIntosh’s appointment, Penguin Group president Susan Petersen Kennedy will leave the company at the end of the year after more than 35 years. Berkeley/NAL president Leslie Gelbman remains “an essential member of Madeline’s new senior publishing leadership team.” The Penguin Children’s division remains as is under its president Don Weisberg, who continues to report to Dohle.
Kennedy says in a brief statement, “I am leaving the company that I love, books that I love, people whom I love. I have spent so many years in the service of this enterprise; it will take time for me to discover where Penguin ends and I begin. However, the world is endlessly fascinating to me. And I am looking forward to further adventures in the arts.” Dohle says of Kennedy in a separate letter she is “a leader with a brilliant mind who seamlessly combines a gift for the art and commerce of publishing with a great heart…. Simply put, I greatly respect Susan for delivering great publishing and outstanding financial results year after year. She has done so by developing and sustaining an environment where creative people thrive, inspired to discover, cultivate, and publish must-read books.”
McIntosh says in the announcement: “As a lifelong avid Penguin reader, I am humbled and thrilled to now join this publishing team full time. Since the merger, my admiration for the work of these world-class publishers, editors, designers, marketers, and publicists has become even stronger than it was when I was watching them from afar. Their love for Penguin’s authors and books is both inspiring and motivating. I know we will learn a lot from each other, and hopefully also have fun together, as we go forward to publish our books the Penguin way.”
Dohle outlined the creation of the Penguin Publishing Group in a memo to staff, explaining that “as our marketplace continues to evolve, and as consumer demand shifts between formats, it is clear that capitalizing on our authors’ opportunities for growth will require even greater collaboration and coordination, and even more unified publishing strategies across all formats. That is why the time is right to create a one-leader management structure for the entire Penguin adult business, while also maintaining the identity of each of its individual publishing imprints.”
In Penguin Random House US corporate management, as McIntosh relinquishes her previous duties, Nihar Malaviya is being promoted to evp, chief operating officer and Jaci Updike moves up to president of sales. Both will report to Dohle, and will become members of the Penguin Random House North America Board. Here Dohle notes, “Jaci’s longstanding relationships and experience and Nihar’s matchless expertise will be a natural fit, enabling us to promptly and thoroughly address the full spectrum of customer and publisher opportunities with an interconnected team.”
Additionally, svp, digital publishing development Nina von Moltke will also now report to Dohle. Newly reporting to Malaviya are Amanda Close, svp, director, Digital Marketplace Development; Annette Danek, svp, director, Fulfillment; Jeff Abraham, president, Penguin Random House Publisher Services; Yvette Dano, vp, director of operations, Penguin; and Brendan Cahill, vp, corporate Projects. Newly reporting to Updike are Felicia Frazier, svp, director, Penguin Random House Young Readers Sales; and Cyrus Kheradi, svp, director, Penguin Random House International Sales and Marketing and Director, East Asia Business Development.
All of the Penguin Group adult imprint presidents and publishers will report to McIntosh, along with Paul Buckley, Leigh Butler, Jacqueline Fischetti, Richard Hasselberger, Casey Blue James, Dennis Lee, Catharine Lynch, Pat Lyons, Lily Rudd, and Kristin Spang will also all report to McIntosh.
Dohle writes of McIntosh: “Madeline has been one of our greatest champions in identifying and implementing the opportunities for growth and innovation – particularly in the digital arena — created by the evolving marketplace. Her drive to increase revenue and readership for our authors has been a touchstone for all our constituencies, especially for agents and booksellers, with whom she enjoys longstanding relationships—and, above all, for our colleagues across the company, whom she inspires to excel. In her corporate capacity, Madeline has gotten to know well our Penguin publishing, editorial, marketing, and sales colleagues and their lists. She has quickly become their ardent and knowledgeable advocate and supporter. In her new role, Madeline will clearly be uniquely qualified to ensure that Penguin publishing will continue to thrive.”
McIntosh announcement letter
Dohle on Kennedy