Wasserstein & Co. has sold Recorded Books — which incorporates their earlier purchases of HighBridge Audio and Tantor Media — to LA-based private equity firm Shamrock Capital Advisors. Shamrock’s investment portfolio includes Isolation Network, the parent company of INScribe Digital. Terms were not disclosed, though Wasserstein was thought to have paid approximately $25 million for Tantor Media at the beginning of this year. Dow Jones says that Shamrock typically invests anywhere from $15 million up to $100 million. The price was not released when Wasserstein first bought Recorded Books from Haights Cross in 2014, either. In the last reported data, […]
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Wendy McCurdy will return to Kensington, as editorial director, starting August 3. She was previously an executive editor at Berkley and prior to that a senior editor at Bantam Dell after starting her career at Kensington’s Zebra Books. Philip Turner has returned to his roots as a bookseller, working at the new Rizzoli Bookstore in New York, which opens on July 27. He continues to operate his editorial service and publishing consultancy Philip Turner Book Productions as well. Mark Thomas has joined Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as senior vice president of engineering, based in New York, leading global software development and driving the effective delivery of HMH’s digital products. He reports to […]
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Jeff James will join Thomas Nelson as vp, marketing for Nelson Books on June 29. Previously he was the founder and ceo of Mythology, a marketing consulting practice for Fortune 500 firms. Steven Sussman will join Skyhorse as director of sales on June 29. Previously he was director of sales at Dover Publications. Antonella Pearce joins IPR License as business development manager. She was at the Publishers Licensing Society (PLS). J.K. Rowling has written extensively about the “reactionary, prejudiced, narrow-minded, ignorant and bigoted” Dursley family and their deep-seated resentment of Harry Potter on Pottermore, covered here by the Guardian. Partnerships […]
Corporate: Pearson Sells Family Education Network Sites, Harlequin Launches Audio
Pearson has sold their Family Education Network — the group of websites for kids that includes Poptropica and Funbrain — to UK-based private equity company Sandbox Partners for undisclosed terms. Founded last year, Sandbox is run by former president of Pearson English Bhav Singh. Pearson spokesperson Brendan O’Grady said the sale is part of a “shift to focus on the Pearson products and services with the biggest potential impact on learning outcomes.” But he noted Pearson will still use Poptropica characters in a number of their English-language learning products. Author Jeff Kinney, who co-founded Poptropica while working at FEN and continues as Poptropica’s creative […]
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Martin Barabas has joined Regan Arts as publicity manager. Most recently he worked at Ingber & Associates Talent Agency. Debra Woodward will join Red Wheel/Weiser as sales manager on June 8. She was most recently the New England sales representative for Candlewick Press. At Soho Press, Amara Hoshijo has been promoted to assistant editor. At Sourcebooks, Becca Smith is being promoted to publicity & marketing specialist. In addition, Ami Vanderhoof has joined the e-commerce department as brand marketing manager. Previously she was marketing manager at Fannie May Confections Brands. Finally, Imani Mixon has joined as ecommerce copywriter/storyteller. Distribution The Brookings […]
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Rob Kirkpatrick will join Dey Street Books as senior editor on May 18. Previously he was senior editor at Thomas Dunne Books. Emily Cunningham will join Penguin Press as editor on June 9. Previously she was an editor at Harper. At Penguin Random House Children’s sales group, Jacqueline Engel has been promoted to vp, group sales director and director, field sales & business development, Penguin Young Readers. In addition, Mark Santella moves up to vp, group sales director and director, mass merchandise sales, Random House Children’s Books. Both Engel and Santella will report to Felicia Frazier. Nick Elliot has joined […]