Rose Hilliard has joined Audible as executive editor in their Original Publishing division, bolstering their acquisitions of original audiobooks and audio-first projects. She was senior editor at St. Martin’s. Jessica Renheim has been promoted to senior editor at Dutton. Publisher Christine Ball said in the announcement, “As you all know she is one of the hardest workers around and she is part of the Dutton fabric.” At Viking Children’s, Kendra Levin was recently promoted to executive editor while Maggie Rosenthal was promoted to assistant editor. At University of North Carolina Press, Brandon Proia has been promoted to senior editor. Chris Wellbelove will move to […]
Finance
People, Etc.
At Disney-Hyperion, Rotem Moscovich has been promoted to executive editor, Laura Schreiber has been promoted to senior editor, and Hannah Allaman moves up to assistant editor. Seattle Times book editor Mary Ann Gwinn is leaving after 34 years at the newspaper (18 as book editor). In this column, “she looks back at notable adventures and thanks you, the readers and writers who built our city of literature.” Distribution IPG will handle North American sales and distribution for Albert Whitman, beginning with the publisher’s digital frontlist as of February 1, and adding print titles as of April 1. Whitman has been […]
Quarto to Sell Ailing Books & Gifts Direct; Peanuts Stake for Sale
After years of poor results from the Books & Gifts Direct business in Australia and New Zealand, Quarto announced preliminary agreement on a sale on that division, with the deal “anticipated to close in the coming weeks.” They are expected to receive a mere $1 million (Australian) in cash, plus $4.75 million “in interest-bearing loan notes which are repayable out of cash generated by the business.” Assuming that loan is repaid in full, Quarto will take a writedown of approximately $11 million (US). Otherwise, Quarto told investors they “expect to report profits in line with management expectations” for 2016. Good performance from the recently-acquired Harvard […]
Nielsen Sells US Bookscan and Related Services to NPD
Nielsen has sold the BookScan service in the US only, along with the related services that comprise Nielsen Book in the US (including PubTrack Digital and the Books & Consumers surveys) to NPD Group, based in Port Washington, Long Island, for undisclosed terms. Those services will comprise the new NPD Book practice group, adding to the company’s data services for over 20 industries. Nielsen Book worldwide svp and managing director Jonathan Stolper will serve as president of NPD Book, and the new owner has offered employment to all of the US-based commercial Nielsen Book employees. As part of the sale, Nielsen […]
As Expected, Pearson Ready to Sell Penguin Random House Stake; Profit Warning Sinks Shares
Pearson issued a “trading update” on their results Wednesday morning, telling investors they are ready to sell (or recapitalize) their 47 percent stake in Penguin Random House: “With the integration of Penguin Random House complete, and with greater industry-wide stability on digital terms, we intend to issue an exit notice regarding our 47 percent stake in Penguin Random House to our JV partner Bertelsmann in the contractual window, with a view to selling our stake or recapitalizing the business and extracting a dividend.” While those reasons are valid and Pearson was expected to use the window available to them starting […]
People, Etc.
Tom Thompson has joined SMP as vp, creative services and advertising. Thompson most recently was svp, digital strategy/group director of Verso Advertising, where he worked for 10 years. At William Morrow, Emily Krump has been promoted to senior editor. Bookselling Barnes & Noble will close their downtown Minneapolis store at Nicollet Mall in May when the lease expires. The company admitted that the two-floor, 25,000-square-foot store is too big and unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the landlord for a 14,000 to 16,000-square foot space on one floor. It’s yet another sign that the bookseller is looking to reshape its store […]