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 […]
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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. […]
UK Conglomerate Acquires Aptara for $150 Million, and More Corporate News
Washington, DC-area-based Aptara has been acquired for an enterprise value of approximately $150 million by iEnergizer Limited, a public conglomerate listed on the London Stock Exchange, with “wide-ranging investments in business process outsourcing, oil and gas, and real estate.” ($5 million of the purchase price will be held in escrow for 12 months.) iEnergizer is funding the acquision primarily through a new $114 million short-term loan facility. As of a year ago (the end of 2010), Aptara had revenues of $66 million and operating profit of $10.1 million. iEnergizer board chair Sara Latham says in the announcement, “As the only […]
Remembrance: Author Jeff Zaslow, 53
Co-author most recently of Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly’s GABBY: A Story of Courage and Hope, and author of many other bestsellers Jeff Zaslow, 53, died Friday in a car accident in Northern Michigan. He had been at McLean & Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey, MI for an event Thursday night. Zaslow is said to have lost control of his car on a snowy road and was struck by a truck. Best-known for co-authoring THE LAST LECTURE, Zaslow also collaborated with Capt. Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger, and his book THE MAGIC ROOM: A Story About the Love We Wish for Our Daughters […]
People
Perseus Books Group announced what ceo David Steinberger calls “a strategically important new hire that reflects our profound commitment to our people.” Starting today, David Bronstein joins the company in the new position of chief talent officer, reporting to Steinberger. Bronstein has worked previously at Omnicom Media, Universal Music and MTV Networks. HR director Lindsey Pullen will report to Bronstein. He is charged with developing a more systemmatic approach to “attracting, developing and retaining the most capable people at every level of the company,” which currently employees approximately 600 people across all locations. Steinberger says that with “limitless opportunities to […]
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At Dial Books for Young Readers, Kathy Dawson has been promoted to vp, editorial director. Jennifer Gonzalez is joining the Macmillan sales department in the new position of vp, children’s sales, starting March 5 and reporting to president of sales Alison Lazarus. She has been director of sales, mass merchants at Random House, and prior to that she was director of sales, mass market and brand initiatives for Candlewick Press. She will be responsible for all children’s sales from Macmillan Children’s as well as their distributed publishers. Reporting to Gonzalez, Mark Von Bargen is being promoted to senior director, trade sales for […]