ICM Partners has expanded their partnership to encompass 11 more agents. They join the 27 partners who took control of the firm in 2012 after completing a buyout of previous controlling owner Rizvi Traverse Management. Two book publishing agents — Kris Dahl and Jennifer Joel — are among the new partners. (Sloan Harris, Esther Newberg and Amanda Urban were all part of the initial group of partners from last year.) The partners noted in a group statement: “The culture of professionalism, collegiality and teamwork that we enjoy at the agency will continue to grow with the addition of our new […]
Agency News
Ten Possible Bidders Still Vying for IMG
The ongoing auction for agency IMG has culled the initial field of 20 or more potential bidders down to ten candidates, in a sale expected to garner $2 billion or more. The NY Post reported that still active bidders include CAA (backed by TPG) and William Morris Endeavor (backed by Silver Lake), as well as private equity firms KKR and New Mountain Capital; Bain; CVC Capital in partnership with The Chernin Group as well as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Bahrain’s Mumtalakat; and Carlyle Group. Lagardere is among those no longer in contention, though former ICM owner Rizvi Traverse […]
People: A New President for Rodale, and More
Rodale has brought in their highest-level outsider since ceo Steve Murphy was dismissed in 2009 and Maria Rodale took over as chairman and ceo. Longtime Dow Jones executive Scott Schulman will join Rodale on October 28 as president, reporting to Maria Rodale. She had announced in July that the company was searching for both a president and a chief operating officer. Schulman will be responsible for developing strategy and revenue growth. Ruth Pomerance has joined Folio Literary Management as literary and dramatic rights agent. She will build her own client list while adding to Folio’s presence in the feature film, […]
People, Etc.
Melina Gerosa Bellows has been promoted to publisher of National Geographic Books, adding responsibility for sales, marketing and distribution to her current role as National Geographic’s chief creative officer for Books, Kids and Family. Ken Rhodes has been promoted to managing director, NBN International. Will Lach is joining the American Museum of Natural History as director, licensing and publishing. Previously he was manager of product development, Department of Printed Product, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, Ross Harris has been promoted to literary agent. At Harper Children’s, Melissa Miller has been promoted to editor […]
People, Etc.
Counterpoint Press editor-at-large Dan Smetanka has been appointed executive editor. He will continue to acquire fiction and nonfiction for both the Counterpoint and Soft Skull lists and will remain based in Los Angeles. Sarah Younger has been promoted to associate agent at the Nancy Yost Literary Agency, where she has worked for two years. The Cooke Agency International will sell foreign rights outside of North America to the list represented by fellow Canadians Rick Broadhead & Associates. At Dutton, Liza Cassity has been promoted to senior publicist. In the UK, the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency has hired David Newton as […]
People
Candlewick editor-at-large Joan Powers has been promoted to group editorial director for the company’s new licensed publishing divisions Candlewick Entertainment and for Walker Entertainment, both of which will launch its first lists in spring 2014. Powers will report to Helen McAleer and will continue to edit select authors for Candlewick. In addition, Kristen Nobles has been promoted group art director for both divisions, reporting to Powers. Clelia Gore will join Martin Literary Management on October 1, where she will oversee the agency’s new children’s division. Mike Conlon has rejoined Red Wheel Weiser Books as production manager, in the company’s Newburyport, […]