Andrew Kidd will join Weidenfeld & Nicolson as editor-at-large, reporting to Kirsty Dunseath, while continuing as chair of the Rathbones Folio Prize and chief executive of Alexi Books.
Michael Lynton will join the board of Pearson on February 1. Lynton, who ran Penguin briefly in the 90s after Peter Mayer stepped down, is currently chairman of Snap Inc. Most recently, he was chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment. Despite their recent performance, Pearson chairman Sidney Taurel says in the announcement: “Pearson is going to be the winner in digital education. That requires great people as well as great products. The Pearson Board and leadership already has strong digital talent and expertise, and Michael’s appointment augments that perfectly.” Lynton adds, “Education is the next frontier in the digital revolution and Pearson is uniquely well placed to lead the way. I’m impressed by the major investment in the products of the future and the creation of a single, global learning platform. Most importantly, Pearson has strong leadership and a clear vision – I’m excited to be joining the team.”
Joy Fowlkes has been promoted to head of content at MentorBox, responsible for sourcing professional and personal development books for the monthly subscription service.
Awards
The National Book Critics Circle the finalists for their John Leonard Prize, given to a first book in any genre, with the winner to be announced in January:
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky, by Lesley Nneka Arimah (Riverhead)
Marlena, by Julie Buntin (Holt)
What We Lose, by Zinzi Clemmons (Viking)
Whereas, by Layli Long Soldier (Graywolf)
Her Body and Other Parties, by Carmen Maria Machado (Graywolf)
My Absolute Darling, by Gabriel Tallent (Riverhead)
Sally Rooney won the Sunday Times/Peters Fraser + Dunlop Young Writer of the Year Award for her debut novel Conversations with Friends.