At Penguin Random House, deputy chief financial officer James Johnston has been promoted to global chief financial officer, reporting to ceo Markus Dohle. He fills officially the position vacated when Milena Alberti left the company at the end of 2017, after leading the finance group on an interim basis. Dohle writes, “With 28 years of experience at our company, Jim has been a significant and valued contributor to the development and success of Random House and Penguin Random House…. Simply stated, Jim understands inside and out how our company ticks and works, and he consistently demonstrates a considered pragmatism, natural calm, and genuine enthusiasm for our publishing efforts.”
Continuing to work with Johnston but now reporting directly to Dohle is Manuel Sansigre, vp, global mergers and acquisitions.
Adam Miller was named president and ceo of Joseph-Beth Booksellers. He has been vp, retail industry strategy at Ricoh for the past year, and was vp, stores and operations at lane Bryant from 2008 through 2011. Owner and chairman Robert Langley said in the announcement, “We are committed to the success of Joseph-Beth Booksellers and believe Adam is exactly what Joseph-Beth needs to enter its next chapter in creating personalized customer experience and brand growth.”
Leigh Eisenman has joined MacKenzie Wolf as attorney and agent, where she will focus on practical non-fiction and illustrated books, among other genres. Previously she was agent and contracts manager for Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency and counsel for Lyons & Salky Law.
Jennifer Grimaldi has joined Chalberg & Sussman as an agent focusing on YA and genre fiction. Previously, she worked as a scout at Barbara Tolley & Associates, and an editor at St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne.
Deanna McFadden has joined Wattpad Studios as publishing director. She was most recently associate publisher at Joe Books.
Edmison/Harper Literary Scouting has been appointed North American literary scout for Beijing Imaginist as of Septermber 1.
Bookselling
Aeon Bookstore opened in NYC’s Lower East Side on Friday, stocking literature, art, philosophy, occult and music books.
Barnes & Noble will open a temporary pop-up store on Thursday in Wilkes-Barre Twp., PA, while they repair a store damaged by a tornado three months ago. The bookseller is said to have a six-month lease for the 30,000-square-foot former Sears Outlet store.
Distribution
Baker & Taylor Publisher Services recently began selling and distributing the following publishers: Distanz in the US and Canada; Jacaranda Books Arts Music in the US, Canada, and internationally, excluding Spain and Portugal; Amsterdam University Press in the US and Canada; and KWiL Publishing in the US and Canada. It will start selling and distributing Arcler Education in the US, Canada, and internationally as October 1.