Longtime executive director of the National Book Foundation Harold Augenbraum will leave his position at the end of March 2016. The Foundation’s board of directors has formed a search committee and selected executive search firm Spencer Stuart to look for a new executive director. “I have very much enjoyed my time here at the Foundation,” Augenbraum said in the announcement, “but it’s time for me to seek new challenges in my professional life and for new leadership at the Foundation as it looks toward the future.” Perseus Books ceo and National Book Foundation board chair David Steinberger added: “We owe a great debt to Harold for his exceptional service and countless contributions to the Foundation and its mission. We respect his decision, and look forward to working closely with him on a carefully crafted transition process that will position the Foundation for the future.”
At Little, Brown Children’s, Andrea Spooner takes on the new role of vp, editorial director of picture books, now that James Patterson’s books for younger readers are being published under the jimmy patterson imprint, operating as part of the Little, Brown adult division. In addition, Farrin Jacobs, current editorial director at Poppy, takes on added responsibility as editorial director, nonfiction.
Amy Brand has been appointed director of MIT Press, effective July 20. Previously she worked at multiple universities in publishing and scholarly communications (including a stint as editor at MIT Press) and most recently as a vice president at Digital Science.
At Norton, Jeff Shreve has been promoted to associate editor.
Hannah Moushabeck will join Chronicle Books on July 20 as associate marketing manager, children’s. Previously she was the children’s book buyer and event planner for Odyssey Bookshop.
Toby Jones has joined Simon & Schuster UK in the newly created role of group marketing and publicity director. He was most recently communications manager at Penguin UK.
Award
The Impac Dublin Literary Award has gone to Jim Crace‘s Harvest. (The book had been the bettors’ favorite to win the Booker in 2013, losing out to Eleanor Catton’s The Luminaries.) The judges said: “At times, Harvest reads like a long prose poem; it plays on the ear like a river of words. But then again, Jim Crace is a consummate wordsmith; his understanding of human nature is uncanny and he never drops a stitch from start to finish. All human life is here: its graces and disgraces and there is life too in every small stone, flower and blade of grass.”
France will be the Guest of Honor country at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2017.