At Penguin Random House, deputy chief financial officer James Johnston has been promoted to global chief financial officer, reporting to ceo Markus Dohle. He fills officially the position vacated when Milena Alberti left the company at the end of 2017, after leading the finance group on an interim basis. Dohle writes, “With 28 years of experience at our company, Jim has been a significant and valued contributor to the development and success of Random House and Penguin Random House…. Simply stated, Jim understands inside and out how our company ticks and works, and he consistently demonstrates a considered pragmatism, natural […]
Bookstores
Waterstones Buys Foyles
Waterstones has agreed to acquire Foyles, the 115 year old family-owned chain of seven bookstores. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, but it is expected to close by the end of the year. Waterstones chief executive James Daunt, said in the release, “Together, we will be stronger and better positioned to protect and champion the pleasures of real bookshops in the face of Amazon’s siren call.” He noted, “We are honoured to be entrusted with the Foyles business, and greatly look forward to joining forces with the Foyles bookselling team.” Foyles has three locations in London, including its flagship […]
People, Etc.
Jennifer Schuster has left Crown Archetype, where she was an executive editor, to launch Jen Schuster Editorial Services, providing developmental editing, ghostwriting, proposal development, and consulting services. In an update to our report on Folio Literary Management acquiring Harold Ober Associates, Phyllis Westberg and Craig Tenney are retiring, and other Ober personnel will join Folio. Bookselling Laurel Book Store in Oakland closed on Friday, after a relocation downtown four years ago caused financial troubles. Last July, owner Luan Stauss asked customers to help raise $30,000 she needed to catch up in rent. She wrote in a final newsletter to customers, […]
People, Etc.
Lily Yengle has joined Bloomsbury Children’s as marketing manager. She was previously publicist at Penguin Children’s. Maria Mann has joined Page Street Publishing as publicity and marketing associate. Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will be the keynote speaker at the opening press conference of the Frankfurt Book Fair, on October 9. At the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, director of cultural programs Louise Steinman is leaving the organization, as is associate director Maureen Moore. Steinman founded and the ALOUD reading series at the downtown Central Library for 25 years. Spokesperson Leah Price told the LAT, “We’re in the process of re-envisioning the ALOUD series […]
People, Etc.
Lindsay Sagnette will join Atria Books as vp, editorial director on September 10, reporting to Libby McGuire. She has been editorial director for fiction at Crown and helped launch both the Hogarth and Sarah Jessica Parker for Hogarth imprints. Sagnette will supervise the Atria Books editorial staff and acquire and edit her own titles. Peter Borland will continue reporting to McGuire as vp and editor in chief of the Atria Publishing Group. He will focus on acquiring and editing his own list, and overseeing the editorial strategy for Howard Books, Keywords, and Skybound imprints. Caitie Hawthorne will join Atria as associate […]
People, Etc.
Stacy Horowitz has joined Random House as partnerships manager. She was most recently with Hay House. Kristine Enderle has been promoted to editorial director of Magination Press, the children’s book imprint of The American Psychological Association. Sarah Fell has been promoted to senior editor and will start acquiring and developing books. Colson Whitehead was named New York’s 12th state author and Alicia Ostriker was named the 11th state poet. Joseph Vallely, 74, literary agent best known for his political and military nonfiction, died in his sleep on August 15 at his home in Front Royal, VA. His clients included Peter Schweizer, Bill […]