Penguin Random House chief human resources officer Frank Steinert will leave the company after the first quarter in 2019. CEO Markus Dohle writes that Steinert “contributed passionately and immensely to our company by improving and strengthening our services for the most central part of our business: our employees.”
Paige McInerney is promoted to the new position of evp, director of human resources for Penguin Random House US, reporting to Madeline McIntosh, and will join the US board. She has been with the company since 1991, when she started to Putnam Berkley.
Dohle writes that he “will directly oversee the most global aspects of our HR work–in particular, talent management and learning and development.” Jo Mallia is promoted to vp, global talent management, with day-to-day responsibilities in those areas, reporting to Dohle. As a result of the changes, vp, learning and development Ann Fedeli will leave the company at the end of March.
EVP, operations, Barnes & Noble Education and president, Barnes & Noble College Patrick Maloney will retire on April 27, 2019 at the end the company’s fiscal year. Barry Brover will move up to evp, operations of Barnes & Noble Education and evp of Barnes & Noble College, starting January 1. Thomas D. Donohue will succeed Brover as executive vice president, chief financial officer of BNED. Lisa Malat, coo of Barnes & Noble College, will expand her responsibilities, including leading the marketing and sales teams.
Bruce Nygren, senior editor at WaterBrook and Multnomah, will retire at the end of the year. He first joined the imprint team in and then returned in 2008 after running a private writing and editorial service. VP, editor-in-chief Laura J. Barker said, “His knowledge of the marketplace and his expert ability to shape a manuscript to its most compelling form have established Bruce as an invaluable source of wisdom for many authors, agents, and colleagues over his storied career.”
At Ave Maria Press, Karey Circosta has been promoted to associate publisher, and will continue as director of sales and marketing. Eileen Ponder has been promoted to executive editor, ministry resources. Heidi Hess Saxton moves up to senior acquisitions editor.
Awards Controversy
Some prominent members of the Mystery Writers of America have criticized the organization’s decision to withdraw Linda Fairstein’s Grand Master honor due to her prosecution of the Central Park Five in 1990. Mysterious Bookshop owner Otto Penzler, author and former MWA president Nelson DeMille, and Poisoned Pen Bookstore owner Barbara Peters have spoken out about the retraction. Penzler wrote to the board, taking issue with “caving to political correctness” and calling it a “disgraceful decision, besmirching the reputation of one of the finest, most decent and honorable women I have ever known.” DeMille suggested that the board actually had “no idea of how most MWA members feel about this issue.” Peters called the online protest over the award “cyberbullying” and called on the organization to develop more rigorous policies and process for the future.
Bookselling
New Orleans children’s bookstore The French Library closed on December 15. Owners posted on Facebook, “Over the past three years we have watched in wonder as you guided and nurtured a love for reading and culture within your little ones. We are shuttering our blue doors on Magazine; but only to pave the way for a new adventure!”
Harassment Files
Former CBS ceo Les Moonves will not receive his $120 million severance payment. CBS said on Monday that there are grounds “to terminate for cause, including his willful and material misfeasance, violation of company policies and breach of his employment contract.” Moonves stepped down in September following multiple misconduct accusations. Moonves’ lawyer Andrew Levander responded, “Mr. Moonves vehemently denies any non-consensual sexual relations and cooperated extensively and fully with investigators.”