Barnes & Noble chairman Len Riggio spoke with the NYT as well as the WSJ (which we covered on Friday). We know what you think about how these reports sound, worried that the bookseller is “mired in a leadership crisis” and that the turnaround now rests on Riggio’s “‘5,000’ ideas for how to lure customers back to Barnes & Noble.” But as bad as these interviews might sound to you, financial markets are unfazed: The stock inched up Friday and again this morning. (That might also be telling us something is underway that we don’t know about yet.) The NYT […]
Bookstores
Riggio and Mantel Try to Mollify Publishers; CEO Search Could Go to Year-End
Barnes & Noble’s executive chairman and largest shareholder Len Riggio had some private meetings with top publishing executives in the wake of the abrupt dismissal of ceo Demos Parneros, the WSJ reports. Chief merchandising officer Timothy Mantel joined Riggio at the meetings, and he is seen as “on the rise at the company, the people said.” (Remember that the last ceo search was not a real search at all; in fact all but one of the recent ceos has been an internal promotion: Parneros was hired in as chief operating officer while the search was underway, and then promoted to ceo. […]
People, Etc.
MacGregor Literary, run by Chip MacGregor, now operates as MacGregor & Luedeke. Amanda Luedeke, who has worked with MacGregor for ten years, becomes a partner in the agency. Barnes & Noble filed a general release and waiver with the SEC outlining the termination terms for retiring chief digital officer Fred Argir. (who receives cash severance of $500,000 over the next year, along with other benefits). Bookselling Hudson Group has won the contract for the expanded and “reimagined” Terminal B at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which will open in stages beginning this fall. That contract includes partnering with New York bookstore McNally Jackson, […]
Bookselling Round-Up, and More
On Indigo’s investor call, cfo Hugues Simard clarified that they had a total of 16 superstores under renovation in the just-reported quarter. Two renovations were completed in that period, and another 12 will be finished “between now and November.” Additionally, the timeline on their first US store in Short Hills, NJ has slid just a little. Previously pointed towards opening in “late August, early September,” now, “It’ll be most probably a late-September opening.” As Ann Arbor bookseller Aunt Agatha’s, prepares to close on August 31 after 26 years of operation, owners Robin and Jamie Agnew “weren’t expecting [the] outpouring of support […]
People, Etc.
Jenn Gonzalez has been promoted to executive vice president, director of sales at Macmillan, taking over as longtime president of sales Alison Lazarus moves to Hachette Book Group. Gonzalez joined Macmillan in 2012 as vp of children’s sales and most recently served as svp, trade sales. Macmillan president Don Weisberg writes: “Jenn has a great passion for books, deft business sensibilities, and a superb rapport with colleagues, customers, and authors. The growth in children’s books and merchandise sales have been spectacular. I am confident that Jenn, with the terrific support of her first-rate team, is the right person to lead not only our […]
People, Etc.
Priyanka Krishnan, formerly at Harper Voyager, has joined Orbit as editor. Bradley Englert has been promoted to editor. At Penguin Random House Canada, Beth Lockley is promoted to the new position of vp, marketing and communications, overseeing a combined marketing and publicity team and reporting to chief operating officer Robert Wheaton. Longtime executive Tracey Turriff, who has been vp, publicity and svp, corporate communications, is leaving as a result, after 22 years with the company. (Both Lockley and Turriff had once reported to now-retired ceo Brad Martin.) Josh Glover has been promoted to director, publicity. The August pick for the PBS […]