Pearson released results for the first half of their year on Friday, reporting sales for Penguin that are both up and down. On the pure numbers, sales of £457 million were down £36 million, or 7 percent (and down less on a constant-exchange basis), and operating profit of £42 million fell £2 million. But an organizational change at Pearson late last year realigned the units that are reported as part of Penguin, and when the “underlying” results are adjusted to compare the ongoing pieces of Penguin, sales were flat and profits actually rose 13 percent. Penguin ceo John Makinson says […]
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UK’s World Book Night Comes to US Under Carl Lennertz
A US division of the UK’s World Book Night program is being formed under the direction of HarperCollins vp, retail marketing Carl Lennertz, who starts there September 1. The second annual World Book Night will take place April 23 in the US and the UK. Twenty-five titles for the UK will be announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 12, chosen by an editorial selection committee chaired by author Tracy Chevalier. In the US, a “cross-industry steering committee” is in formation. Lennertz says in the announcement, “I have loved everything about my time at Harper. The books, the people, […]
People: Morgan to Become It Books Publisher, and More
Answering the question of who would run HarperCollins’ It Books as Carrie Kania departs, the publisher said Thursday that Cal Morgan is being promoted to svp, publisher of the line, reporting to Michael Morrison. Morgan has been editorial director since It Books launched in 2009. He will also assume Kania’s role of overseeing the Harper Design, still led by vp, publisher Marta Schooler. Morgan will take on these new responsibilities while continuing to serve as editorial director of Harper Perennial, as announced earlier in the week. At HarperCollins Speakers Bureau, Caitlin McCaskey has been promoted to manager and Wade Lucas has been […]
People
At the Random House publishing group, Random House Trade Paperbacks associate publisher Melissa Possick is moving over to the newly-created position of director, marketing partnerships. She will reporting to marketing director Sanyu Dillon and work from home. Possick will “conceptualize and develop partner opportunities in both the digital and physical universe and seek to acquire third-party promotional and advertising partner programs.” Currently vp, associate publisher for Mass Market, Del Rey/Spectra & Digital Gina Wachtel will expand her role to vp, Mass Market & Trade Paperbacks. She will report to Jane von Mehren in her new role with Random House Trade […]
People, Etc.
OverDrive has hired Brian Gurewitz as director of content sales. He was formerly president of library sales for Random House’s Books on Tape. Katie O’Callaghan is joining the Harper as associate director, marketing, working across all of the Harper imprints including Harper, Harper Business, and Broadside Books. She was most recently senior marketing manager at Ballantine Bantam Dell. The Los Angeles Times book review will no longer employ freelance book reviewers or non-staff columnists. LAT spokesperson Nancy Sullivan tells PW, “This was a cost-saving move, strictly related to our budget.” She said “staff writers from outside the book department will take […]
Books-A-Million’s Borders Bid Fails, But It Will Still Occupy A Few Spaces
Books-A-Million announced late Monday that their effort to acquire 30 Borders stores “has ended unsuccessfully because the parties could not agree on terms and the going out of business sales at these locations commenced.” CEO Clyde Anderson said in the announcement “we worked exhaustively in an effort to acquire these stores and reach agreements with all of the parties whose consent was necessary. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful.” BAMM will still take over at least a few vacating Borders locations, apparently through direct negotiations with the landlords. So far, the bookseller has had success with mall owners The Cafaro Company in […]