Andy Bird will take over as ceo of Pearson, starting October 19. At that point, current ceo John Fallon will continue in the position until then, when he will step down from the board and remain as an advisor through the end of the year. Bird had been chairman of Walt Disney International most recently, and joined Pearson’s board in May. Board chair Sidney Taurel said, “Andy brings a wealth of international consumer experience, as well as significant expertise in building brands, transformational change and driving digital innovation. He is an inspirational and dynamic leader with an excellent track record […]
Film/TV
Briefs: Strong Opening Sales for Bolton
Simon & Schuster announced Wednesday morning that John Bolton’s THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED: A White House Memoir sold “a total of more than 780,000” units in its first week on sale in the US. Note, however, that the total includes “orders from consumers that are as yet unfulfilled due to extraordinary demand,” which is unusual for a “sales” tabulation by industry practice. (Remember that the publisher told the court it had shipped approximately 200,000 copies to accounts in the US.) The publisher says it has an eleventh printing on the way that will bring the number of hardcovers in […]
People, Etc.
At Macmillan Children’s, Morgan Kane has been promoted to assistant director, publicity; Justin Krasner to senior editor of Odd Dot; Rachel Murray to associate editor at Holt Children’s; and Jessica Chung to junior designer. Daniel Ehrenhaft is leaving Soho Teen to devote more time to the nonprofit WAAC and to explore new opportunities in service of young adult literature. Alexa Wejko has been promoted to editor at Soho Teen, in addition to her role as publicist. Bill Shannon, 57, longtime director of contracts at the Knopf Doubleday Group, died on May 9, from complications of kidney cancer. He joined Knopf in 2000. […]
People, Etc.
Gregory Henry has joined Apollo Publishers as publicist. Previously he ran Gregory Henry Literary. At a virtual meeting, the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) approved three new board members, who will start their terms on July 1: Joshua Boisvert, ReaderLink; Allen Johnson, Baker & Taylor; and Joshua Tallent, Firebrand Technologies. At Canongate, Hannah Knowles has been promoted to editorial director and Vicki Rutherford moves up to head of editorial management. Stuart Weir has joined Yale University Press London in the newly created role of production director, overseeing editorial, production and design for London-originated titles. He was most recently publishing operations […]
People, Etc.
Philip Gwyn Jones will move to Picador and become publisher on June 2. He has been publisher-at-large at Scribe UK. Jones fills the position Paul Baggaley vacates at the end of this month, when he moves to Bloomsbury. (Associate publisher Francesca Main is also leaving Picador, to start a new imprint at Orion.) Leah Miller has joined Atria as executive editor. She was most recently at Grand Central. At Del Rey, Sarah Peed has been promoted to senior editor; Tom Hoeler to editor; and Alex Larned to associate editor. Allison Adler has been promoted to senior editor at Andrews McMeel. Brooke […]
Briefs
Film/TV Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, through their company Escapist Fare, have signed a multi-year overall deal with CBS TV Studios. That deal starts with a limited series adaptation of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay for Showtime, but includes a number of other projects in development. Akiva Goldsman and Alex Kurtzman will executive produce Kavalier & Clay, and Paramount Television will produce (since Paramount Pictures owns the film/TV rights). Initiatives This year James Patterson will give holiday gifts totaling over $200,000 to Barnes & Noble booksellers around the country as well, in addition to his annual holiday bonuses […]