President and publisher of Picador and editor-at-large at Macmillan Frances Coady will be leaving the company as part of an editorial restructuring of the paperback imprint, according to a company-wide memo sent by ceo John Sargent late Thursday to staff (and confirmed to us Friday.) “Over time,” Sargent wrote, “the Picador list has largely gravitated toward FSG, and more recently Holt. At the same time, we have seen shifts in the distribution of Picador paperbacks. The structural/financial model, constructed in another time, has become less meaningful. So we need to change, and to reinvigorate Picador.” As a result, going forward […]
Free
People
Co-head of ICM’s department selling books to the film world Nick Harris is among a group of agents whose contracts will not be renewed when they expire in March, according to multiple reports. Harris joined in ICM in late 2010 to lead the department alongside Josie Freedman. The agency is continuing to reshape itself as part of a transition to a partnership. Author and two-time Pulitzer-winning correspondent Anthony Shadid, 43, died on assignment in Syria, “apparently of an asthma attack.” NYT executive editor Jill Abramson wrote, “Anthony died as he lived — determined to bear witness to the transformation sweeping […]
Corporate: F+W Bolsters eCommerce and Crafts; Publishers Win Injunctions Against Piracy Site
Expanding on a joint venture created in the middle of last year, F+W Media has acquired The Martha Pullen Company, an ecommerce provider, event producer, and content company in the sewing and craft category, from Hoffman Media. Ceo David Nussbaum says in the release, “This is an important strategic acquisition for F+W, as we move more directly into the hard goods product fulfillment arena by offering these goods through our ecommerce stores. Now with the addition of a wealth of sewing information, instruction, and materials we can more fully serve the craft enthusiast community…. The acquisition represents our largest ecommerce […]
Crown Reorganizes Paperback Imprint Reporting and Leadership Structure
Crown has reorganized the reporting and leadership structure of its paperback imprints in the wake of Tina Pohlman’s departure to Open Road Integrated Media, announced earlier on Wednesday. The new structure, which is effective February 24, will bring Three Rivers Press and Broadway Books imprints in closer alignment with the hardcover imprints with which they are respectively associated. Three Rivers Press will now be overseen by svp, publisher for Crown Archetype, Crown Business, Crown Forum, and Harmony Book Tina Constable, with Crown Archetype vp, editor-in-chief Mauro DiPreta handling day-to-day responsibilities for Three Rivers. Senior editor Amanda Patten will now report […]
People: Pohlman to Open Road, and More
Tina Pohlman will join Open Road on March 5 as publisher, filling the position vacated by Brendan Cahill last year, though the job itself has expanded with company’s recent hiring of multiple editorial specialists. She’ll report to ceo Jane Friedman and is charged with “lead[ing] Open Road’s editorial services, expansion into new verticals, and acquisition of new titles.” Friedman says the company has published over 2,000 titles since April 2010, and under Pohlman and the expanded editorial staff they will add “a minimum of 1,000” more titles by the end of 2012. Pohlman was formerly publisher of trade paperbacks at Crown. She […]
People, Etc.
At Tor/Forge, Alexis Nixon has been promoted to publicist and Leah Withers moves up to associate publicist. In addition, Cassie Ammerman, most recently publicist, has been named digital marketing manager for the imprint. At Kids Can Press, Yvette Ghione has been promoted to editorial director and Karen Li moves up to senior editor. In addition, Allison MacLachlan has been named assistant, brands & new business. Barnes & Noble romance buyer Jules Herbert will contribute monthly recommendations and point to store promotions and other offers on Random House’s romance website Romance@Random, the site spearheaded by former Borders romance buyer Sue Grimshaw. […]