Sanjay Doraiswamy has joined Simon & Schuster in the newly created position of data scientist, reporting to Doug Stambaugh. Previously he worked as data scientist for the IT services firm Agilex Technologies, consulting for the Department of Homeland Security. Doraiswamy will initially focus on analyzing pricing strategies, after which he will move to broader projects.
Senior director of publicity at Ecco Michael McKenzie is leaving the company Thursday after 15 years to “pursue other opportunities.” He added in an email, “I’m not entirely sure what I’ll be doing next – possibly freelancing, possibly going to another house – as I need to take a little time to figure things out, decompress, etc.” Ecco publisher Dan Halpern praised McKenzie for garnering “tremendous coverage for titles on both the Harper and Ecco lists.” He may be reached at michaelmckenziepr@gmail.com.
At Penguin Random House Audio, Rebecca Waugh has been promoted to editorial director, Listening Library.
Scholastic announced a number of promotions and new hires in its trade publishing division. Michael Petranek has joined Scholastic as senior editor, licensed publishing. He was most recently an associate editor at Papercutz. Maya Frank-Levine has joined as production editor; previously she was at Rockefeller University Press. Jennifer Abbotts has been named publicity manager; previously she was assistant publicity manager at Harlequin Teen. In promotions, Celia Lee has moved up to associate editor; Leslie Mechanic has been promoted to senior designer; and Rebekah Wallin moves up to production editor, Scholastic Press.
At Klutz, Kim Ryan has been named specialty sales manager, moving over from Splash. Julia Romero has joined as key account manager, coming from Kid O, where she was managing director. Owen Keating has been named senior packaging designer. Previously he was director of product development at Alex Toys.
Veronique Sweet has joined Little, Brown Children’s as senior designer for brand, licensed, and media tie-in publishing. Previously she was a designer at Macmillan Children’s. Ching Chan will also join as senior designer on March 9; previously she was a senior designer at Penguin. Kumi Hayase has joined the marketing art & production department as senior designer; finally, Catherine San Juan has been named assistant designer. Previously she was at Rodale.
In the UK, managing director of Orion Fiction Susan Lamb is leaving the company at the end of the week. She was a founding director of Orion 23 years ago. Orion ceo David Young wrote in a letter, “Susan first suggested that she might leave last October and we have been in discussion with her ever since so although this news may seem sudden it has, in fact, been a long time in the planning.”
Distribution
IPG will provide print and digital distribution for Council Oak Books as of April 1.