The most talked-about story for much of Monday afternoon was a report from NextGov on a pending no-bid State Department contract for Amazon to fill “an immediate need for approximately 2,500 ereaders and 50 titles of content” with Kindle Touch 3G units to be “used as a classroom tool for English language programs globally.” State’s acquisition managers claimed they had “identified the Amazon Kindle as the only e-Reader on the market that meets the Government’s needs, and Amazon as the only company possessing the essential capabilities required by the Government.” Under scrutiny the story changed several times (as evident by paidContent’s report, rewritten […]
Agency News
People, Etc.
Bertelsmann has appointed Marcel Reichart to the newly-created position of evp, digital business development and partnerships, reporting to Thomas Hesse, effective October 1. Reichart is currently managing director of DLD & Ventures at Hubert Burda Media. Danielle Lynn has joined Rodale Books as publicity manager. She was most recently a senior publicist at Simon & Schuster. Kirsten Hall has been promoted to managing agent at Bright Group International, the company’s first full-time agent based in the US. Effective immediately, PGW will handle print and digital distribution for Entangled Publishing, Cameron + Company (as well as its Roundtree Books imprint) and Yosemite […]
People, Awards, Etc.
US author Madeline Miller won the Orange Prize for her debut novel THE SONG OF ACHILLES, published by Ecco in the US and Bloomsbury UK. Chair of judges Joanna Trollope said: “This is a more than worthy winner — original, passionate, inventive and uplifting. Homer would be proud of her.” Executive director of PEN American Center since 2009 Steven L. Isenberg told the board that he will leave the position at the end of the year, providing notice now “to give ample time for the search for my successor and to ensure a smooth, effective transition. Isenberg will be 72 when […]
People: Execs at Disney and Curtis Brown UK, and More
At Disney Consumer Products, Andrew Sugerman has been promoted to evp of Disney Publishing, taking over running the division from Russell Hampton (who held the title of president). Sugerman joined the company in 2007 and built their Disney English learning business (with over 30 language learning centers in China) and he oversees all global English language learning efforts for Disney Publishing. Curtis Brown UK has promoted Jonathan Lloyd to chairman “following a strategic review and consultation period,” with Jonny Geller and Ben Hall acting as joint ceos “to spearhead the management of the company.” The partnership has also instituted “a new […]
ICM Management Completes Buyout; New Partners Include 3 NYC Literary Agents
The turbulent buyout of ICM by its management that was announced as an agreement in principle in December 2011 has been completed. Previous controlling investor Rizvi Traverse Management and former chairman and ceo of ICM Jeffrey Berg have sold their stakes in the agency “and neither will participate in the management of the agency or serve on the agency’s Board” going forward. The WSJ indicates both RTM and Berg received “a combination of cash and preferred non-voting shares.” Traverse purchased its share in the agency, said to be a 40 percent stake, in 2005 for $75 million (and $25 million […]
Dear DOJ: Agents Speak Out
The 13-member board of the Association of Authors Representatives has sent a letter to the Department of Justice opposing the proposed agency ebook pricing settlement with Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster. In a separate email, the AAR called on members “to express their views on the settlement to the DOJ and we hope you will also urge your clients to do the same. Your note might address whether you feel the settlement will foster competition and well-being in the literary marketplace, or the opposite…. We believe it is tremendously important that we all be heard on this […]