The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a 17-page statement of issues regarding the planned merger of Cengage and McGraw-Hill, the result of a review begun in September. The report outlines two primary “preliminary concerns”: First, that the merger will result in “higher prices, reduced quality or a more limited product range for students in Australia”; and second, that it will “further reduce the already limited number of major publishers with whom higher education authors can publish their works.” Interested parties have until January 20 to submit comments and information, with a final decision due from the commission March […]
Archives for December 2019
People, Etc.
Macmillan Learning ceo Ken Michaels has announced plans to resign at the end of January, after running the company since April 2015. General manager Susan Winslow will lead the company after he departs along with the group’s senior leadership team, and all four will report to Macmillan CEO John Sargent. (Update: Following our query the company clarified that Sargent will lead Macmillan Learning going forward, with the four-person management team all reporting to him in that role.) Sargent commented, “Ken has done a great job leading Macmillan Learning, especially in this quickly evolving market. He is a driven leader, a constant […]
Briefs
Film/TV Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, through their company Escapist Fare, have signed a multi-year overall deal with CBS TV Studios. That deal starts with a limited series adaptation of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay for Showtime, but includes a number of other projects in development. Akiva Goldsman and Alex Kurtzman will executive produce Kavalier & Clay, and Paramount Television will produce (since Paramount Pictures owns the film/TV rights). Initiatives This year James Patterson will give holiday gifts totaling over $200,000 to Barnes & Noble booksellers around the country as well, in addition to his annual holiday bonuses […]
People, Etc.
Todd Noden has been promoted to president at Books-a-Million. He was chief operating officer and chief financial officer, and now he adds leadership of the company’s store operations group to his other responsibilities. James Meader left his position as vp, associate publisher at Picador last week and will join Vintage Anchor on December 16 as executive director of publicity and social media, reporting to Suzanne Herz. Register of Copyrights Karyn Temple will leave her position on January 3 to join the Motion Picture Association of America as global general counsel. At Scholastic Trade, Zachary Clark becomes senior editor. Rachel Matson […]
Goodreads Choice Winners
Goodreads announced the winners of their Choice Awards based on online voting in 20 categories. Here are the category winners, sorted by vote totals: The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood (Fiction, 98,291 votes) Daisy Jones & The Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Historical Fiction, 82,483 votes) Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston (Romance, 76,688 votes) The Institute, by Stephen King (Horror, 75,717 votes) The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides (Mystery & Thriller, 68,821 votes) Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston (Debut Novel, 60,656 votes) Ninth House, by Leigh Bardugo (Fantasy, 53,430 votes) The Wicked King, by Holly Black (YA Fantasy […]
People, Etc.
Executive director of publicity, Knopf and Pantheon Paul Bogaards has been promoted to the additional role of deputy publisher, reporting to Tony Chirico. He will have additional responsibility for overseeing marketing for Knopf and Pantheon while continuing to serve as group spokesperson and lead publicity liaison. Newly reporting to Bogaards is svp, associate publisher, Knopf and Pantheon Chris Gillespie. Robyn Bender has been promoted to senior vice president, business operations and strategy at Penguin Children’s. Adam Kane will join Naval Institute Press as director. Previously, he was editor-in-chief at University of Oklahoma Press. The American Library Association sold their longtime […]