Cambridge University Press chief operating officer since 2010 Peter Phillips moves up to chief executive of the publisher, taking over from Stephen Bourne as he gives up the top position as planned though continues to work with the Press. Phillips had previously been on the board of UK communications and media regulator Board of Ofcom, and served as coo for BBC News and director of business development for the BBC in the past. For Neil Young‘s high-profile interview at BEA on Wednesday, June 6, it has been announced that author and musician Patti Smith will be the one asking the questions. (Seating at the lunchtime […]
Authors
Hyperion to Publish New Mitch Albom Novel, THE TIME KEEPER, on August 28
Mitch Albom will return to fiction with the August 28 release of THE TIME KEEPER, which Hyperion described in release as a “magical new novel” that “re-invents the legend of Father Time, and casts him not as an old, withered man, but as a gifted young boy who becomes the inventor of the world’s first clock.” When the boy is ” eventually punished for trying to measure God’s greatest gift, [he] is banished to a cave for centuries, forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more time, more minutes, more years. Eventually, with his […]
People: Frost, Ambrosi, Fuentes, and George
Former president and publisher of the Crown Publishing Group Jenny Frost has joined Scholastic as epublisher and svp ebook strategy. Frost has been working as a consultant for the past two years. Sterling vp marketing and publicity Leigh Ann Ambrosi will join Crown Archetype in the newly created position of vp, Brand Publishing Project Director on June 4, reporting to Tina Constable. In her position, Ambrosi will serve as project director for select publications by key health, fitness, and self-help authors within the Crown Archetype and Harmony Books imprints, and she will also serve as the primary liaison with the author […]
People: Changes at the Top for Nebraska Book, McGraw-Hill Education
Mark Oppegard, ceo of bankrupt NBC Acquisition Corp.–the owner of Nebraska Book Co.–will retire after 14 years leading the company and 42 years of service in all. He will stay on as evp “during a transition period that’s expected to last several months.” COO since 1999 Barry Major takes over as ceo. SVP at the college store division’s Neebo brand Steven Clemente moves up to coo. He joined the company in 2010. Report While McGraw-Hill is in “the final stages” of their search for a new head for their education division prior to its spinoff at the end of the […]
People: Author Mitchard to Head New YA Imprint for F+W, and More
Author of 24 novels and books of non-fiction for adults, young adults, and children Jacquelyn Mitchard will run a new young adult imprint for F+W Media called Merit Press Books. They plan five titles for 2012 and 12 releases for 2013. Publisher Karen Cooper says: “The mission of the line is to provide an abundance of intensely readable, highly suspenseful and unforgettable fiction for readers aged thirteen and up, with a particular emphasis on strong, savvy, female heroes rising to conquer sometimes stunning challenges thrown at them by a very real contemporary world.” Best known for writing the inaugural Oprah’s […]
People, Etc.
Jon Thurber, who has been books editor at the Los Angeles Times since 2010, his latest posting in over 40 years at the newspaper, is leaving “at the beginning of the summer.” The announcement does not name a replacement for position. Kathy Davis has joined Harlequin as acquisitions editor, supporting the newly acquired Heartsong Presents program. Peter Collingridge is the latest well-known epublishing recruit for Safari Books Online, where he will serve as vp of product development. He will work out of London initially, but will relocate to the San Francisco Bay area this summer. Laura Dawson will join Bowker on […]