After less than a year as CEO, Polly Powell has resigned. Controlling shareholder CK Lau will once again serve as interim group CEO. Despite the abrupt departure, Powell provides a cheery statement: “I came to Quarto to make a difference, and I think I have achieved that, so my job is done. Quarto is a fabulous company with outstanding people and it is now firing on all cylinders. The publishing program is super-strong and the numbers are looking good.”
Personnel
People
Leis Pederson has returned to Berkley as editor at large acquiring romance and mysteries. Heather Kelly has been promoted to assistant art director, Appleseed and Abrams Childrens. Gabrielle Nugent has been promoted to associate publicist at Norton. At Harper Christian, Becky Monds has been promoted to associate publisher, Laura Wheeler to acquisitions editor, and Jodi Hughes to senior editor for Thomas Nelson and Zondervan.
People
Danielle Dieterich and Gabriella Mongelli have each been promoted to editor at Putnam. At Random House Children’s, Sarah Hokanson has been promoted to art director, and Nicole Gastonguay has been promoted to assistant art director. Taline Boghosian has joined as designer. She was previously a designer at Starry Forest Books. Miriam Vance has been promoted to contracts & rights associate at Catapult, Counterpoint, Soft Skull Press. Latoya Smith at LCS Literary and Felice Laverne at Art + Deco have launched a new agency, ArtHouse Literary Agency, which will “acquire talent across genres in the adult and young adult markets while proudly standing […]
People
Writers House senior agent Geri Thoma has announced her retirement, effective June 8, after 42 happy years in publishing. She joined Writers House in 2013. Writers House chair Amy Berkower wrote, “Along with her prestigious list, Geri brought with her years of insight and publishing savvy. We will miss her wit, wisdom, and generosity of spirit, and we will treasure the legacy she has left us.” Separately, former svp, corporate director of business affairs at Penguin Random House John Schline has joined Writers House as senior agent. Recently, he has been an independent consultant for tech start-ups, small publishers, and […]
People, Etc.
Celia Lee will join Simon & Schuster Children’s as executive editor. She was most recently senior editor at Orchard Books and Cartwheel Books. Stephanie Koven has joined Blackstone Publishing as head of foreign rights. Previously, Koven was an agent at Cullen Stanley International. Nicki Richesin has joined Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency as an agent. Previously she was at Wendy Sherman Associates.
People
Asanté Simons has been promoted to associate editor for William Morrow/Avon Books. Angela Messina has joined Basic Books as assistant publicity director. Most recently, she was publicity manager at Oxford University Press. In the UK, as part of the Queen’s birthday honors list, Allison & Busby co-founder Margaret Busby was named a CBE and Faber executive chair Stephen Page was awarded an OBE.