Macmillan global chief operating office Andrew Weber “will depart at the end of May to take a position with another company.” He has been at Macmillan since 2013. Holtzbrinck Publishing Group ceo Stefan von Holtzbrinck says in the announcement: “Andrew has been a loyal partner to Macmillan and Holtzbrinck, with great collegiality, human warmth and an eye for talent, all of which will ensure his legacy at Macmillan Publishers as well as at Macmillan Learning.”
DK CFO and strategy director Paul Kelly takes on added responsibility as president of DK US, in addition to his current role. CEO Carsten Coesfeld said in the announcement, “Our US business is our biggest opportunity for growth and already we have seen a strong Q1 performance. Having worked closely with our talented team over the past few months I am convinced that there is so much more we can achieve together.”
Hudson ceo Roger Fordyce is stepping down on June 30, after 30 years with the company. Executive vice president, chief administrative officer and deputy ceo Jordi Martin-Consuegra, will succeed him as ceo. Brian Quinn will become deputy ceo. Martin-Consuegra said in the announcement, “It is a true honor and privilege to be appointed as the new CEO of Hudson….Roger’s stewardship has guided the company through one of the most unprecedented events in the history of the industry, and has left Hudson well-positioned for continued success.”
Hillary Brenhouse will join Bold Type Books on May 24 as editorial director. She was previously editor-in-chief of Guernica.
Forthcoming
The late John le Carré‘s book SILVERVIEW,”about the tension between personal and political loyalty,” will be published by Viking on October 12. It is the only complete novel left unpublished after le Carré’s death in December 2020.
Imprints
Simon & Schuster’s new nonfiction lifestyle imprint led by vp and publisher Richard Rhorer will be named Simon Element and operate as part of Atria, with Rhorer reporting to Libby McGuire. The line will launch in Spring 2022, and initial authors include Dr. Robin Berzin, ceo and founder of Parsley Health; Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer, founders of recipe website and social media platform The Modern Proper; and Alison Seponara, who runs the @theanxietytherapist Instagram account.
Former Clarkson Potter editor in chief Doris Cooper is vp, editor-in-chief of Simon Element. Justin Schwartz joins as vice president and executive editor, moving over from Simon & Schuster. Leah Miller becomes executive editor, moving from Atria. Leah Trouwborst will join as senior editor on May 24. She was most recently at Portfolio. Veronica Alvarado is associate editor, moving over from Tiller Press.
Bookselling
Barnes & Noble will open a new, 10,400-square-foot store in Raleigh, NC’s Village District “by late summer.”
The Drama Book Shop in NYC will reopen at its new West 39 Street location on June 10. The store, owned by Lin-Manuel Miranda and friends, planned to open in March 2020, but was delayed by the pandemic.
Flamin’
On Sunday the Los Angeles Times broke a deeply reported investigation, drawing on “interviews with more than a dozen former Frito-Lay employees, the archival record and Frito-Lay itself” to assert that Richard Montañez did not invent Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, despite longstanding claims to the contrary.
With Portfolio due to publish his second memoir on June 15, Flamin’ Hot: The Incredible True Story of One Man’s Rise From Janitor to Top Executive, publisher Adrian Zackheim proclaims, “We are proud to stand with our author. Richard Montañez embodies the entrepreneurial spirit; we salute his dedication to inspiring people to own their own stories no matter what their circumstances.”
He also casts doubt on the accusation: “During his 40+ years at Frito Lay, Richard Montañez repeated the story of his involvement with this product hundreds of times, in speeches, books, and media interviews. Only now, just as his book is announced, are we suddenly hearing an alternate narrative about the development of this product, which seeks to diminish Richard’s contribution and to question the details of long-ago events.”
The company says, “None of our records show that Richard was involved in any capacity in the Flamin’ Hot test market. We have interviewed multiple personnel who were involved in the test market, and all of them indicate that Richard was not involved in any capacity in the test market. That doesn’t mean we don’t celebrate Richard, but the facts do not support the urban legend.”
Last Call
Our virtual Buzz Books Editors Panel is tonight at 7 PM Eastern; you need to register ahead of time to get the Zoom link, thanks.