Brian Belfiglio has been promoted to vp, director of publicity and marketing at Scribner, continuing to report to Nan Graham. He will oversee a merged department “in order to publicize and promote our books most effectively.” A new marketing director will be hired under Belfiglio. VP, associate publisher Roz Lippel continues in her role, still leading the marketing and branding efforts on Stepehen King titles. Following her work on the revision of Joy of Cooking, she will also focus on developing new cooking, health and lifestyle titles. Dina Davis has been promoted to associate editor at Harlequin for the Love Inspired and […]
Archives for December 2019
Wiley Earnings Reflect Continued Educational Publishing Decline
Wiley reported Q2 earnings, with total sales for the quarter of $466.2 million, up from $448.6 million — which includes increased sales scope from the zyBooks and Knewton acquisitions. Operating income was $63.4 million, up from $57.5 million. Educational publishing sales were $101.7 million, down from $107.5 million, a decline of 5 percent, despite the boost from the recent acquisitions. Professional learning sales were $76 million, down from from $82.2 million, or 8 percent. It’s unclear exactly how much traditional book publishing declined, however, since the company’s recent decision to combine books with its corporate training business, in a single […]
College Store Trade Group Tells Cengage It Opposes the McGraw-Hill Merger, But Hasn’t Yet Told the DOJ
The College Store Trade Group has expressed opposition to the Cengage/McGraw-Hill merger, according to a letter obtained by the Capitol Forum. Previously, the Trade Group, which represents more than 3,000 college bookstores, had told the DOJ it was neutral on the merger. That position apparently changed when Cengage informed bookstores that it was revising its pricing structure for certain digital-access products. Formerly, bookstores received a 20 percent discount on some products, allowing the bookstores to make a profit while still matching these products’ pricing on the Cengage site. But as of December 14, Cengage no longer will offer stores the […]
Barnes & Noble Education to “Review Strategic Opportunities” After Another Poor Quarter
Long-flailing Barnes & Noble Education reported results for another poor quarter, and now may go the way of the Barnes & Noble retail stores, announcing the hiring of a financial advisor to “review strategic opportunities.” That’s generally corporate-speak for putting a company in play, and they note the move comes “in response to a number of unsolicited inquiries.” But nothing is simple at BNED, and they say the adviser will “assist in a review of strategic opportunities to accelerate the execution of customer-focused strategic initiatives and enhance value for BNED shareholders, including, but not limited to, continued execution of the […]
People, Etc.
Daniel Loedel will join Bloomsbury as senior editor, starting on January 6. He was at Scribner. Catherine Tung is now an associate editor at Beacon Press. She was an assistant editor at Vintage. Mary Gaule has been promoted to associate editor for Harper and Harper Perennial. Megha Majumdar was promoted to editor at Catapult. Associate publisher, sales & marketing at Catapult/Counterpoint/Soft Skull Jenn Abel Kovitz announced on Twitter that she is leaving the company in mid-January. The Gernert Company has opened a West Coast office in Culver City. Seth Fishman is managing the new office after three years in Los […]
Reisman Admits Indigo’s Transformation Hit “A Brick Wall,” Will Expand Proprietary Product and Experiences Next
Indigo ceo Heather Reisman spoke to BNN Bloomberg as part of the groundbreaking ceremonies for the University of Toronto’s Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, funded by a $100 million donation from Reisman and her husband Gerry Schwartz. Reisman is more candid than she has been during recent Indigo investor calls in acknowledging that the first phase of the bookseller’s transformation is played out and more dramatic changes are needed. “As many people know, we started a big transformation a few years ago and we had really good success with it. And then we ran pretty much into what I call a […]