At Hachette Book Group, Todd McGarity has been promoted to the new, expanded role of vp, business development. He will now “lead HBG’s growth through acquisition efforts,” while continuing to run the client services (distribution) business. Nobel laureate V.S. Naipaul, 85, died on August 11 at his home in London. Born in Trinidad to emigrants from India, he authored numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including A House for Mr. Biswas and In A Free State, which won the Booker in 1971. When he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001, the Swedish Academy described him as “a […]
Personnel
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MacGregor Literary, run by Chip MacGregor, now operates as MacGregor & Luedeke. Amanda Luedeke, who has worked with MacGregor for ten years, becomes a partner in the agency. Barnes & Noble filed a general release and waiver with the SEC outlining the termination terms for retiring chief digital officer Fred Argir. (who receives cash severance of $500,000 over the next year, along with other benefits). Bookselling Hudson Group has won the contract for the expanded and “reimagined” Terminal B at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which will open in stages beginning this fall. That contract includes partnering with New York bookstore McNally Jackson, […]
Bookselling Round-Up, and More
On Indigo’s investor call, cfo Hugues Simard clarified that they had a total of 16 superstores under renovation in the just-reported quarter. Two renovations were completed in that period, and another 12 will be finished “between now and November.” Additionally, the timeline on their first US store in Short Hills, NJ has slid just a little. Previously pointed towards opening in “late August, early September,” now, “It’ll be most probably a late-September opening.” As Ann Arbor bookseller Aunt Agatha’s, prepares to close on August 31 after 26 years of operation, owners Robin and Jamie Agnew “weren’t expecting [the] outpouring of support […]
People, Etc.
Tom Miller has joined Liza Dawson Associates as senior agent. He spent the last three years at Carol Mann Agency. Maggie Haas has joined Chronicle Books as website and ecommerce coordinator. Previously she helped manage the SFMOMA online store. Tyrus Books founder and former publisher Ben LeRoy will serve as executive director of the Independent Publishers Caucus (IPC) on a part-time basis. IPC aims to “foster a true and mutually beneficial sense of community among independent publishers, between publishers and booksellers, and with readers.” They note that steering committee (comprising Ibrahim Ahmad at Akashic, Terrie Akers at Other Press, Jon […]
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Nancy Sheppard will join Basic Books on August 13 as marketing director. Most recently, she was marketing director at St. Martin’s. Matt Ortile has joined Catapult as digital managing editor. Ortile was most recently the global publishing lead for BuzzFeed International and the founding editor of BuzzFeed Philippines. Farin Schlussel has been promoted to assistant marketing director at Avery and Tarcher Perigee. Loyola Press executive editor, trade Joe Durepos will retire at the end of October after nearly 17 years with the publisher. He said, “I’ve had the best job in the world, working with an incredibly talented team and the finest […]
People, Etc.
Jenn Gonzalez has been promoted to executive vice president, director of sales at Macmillan, taking over as longtime president of sales Alison Lazarus moves to Hachette Book Group. Gonzalez joined Macmillan in 2012 as vp of children’s sales and most recently served as svp, trade sales. Macmillan president Don Weisberg writes: “Jenn has a great passion for books, deft business sensibilities, and a superb rapport with colleagues, customers, and authors. The growth in children’s books and merchandise sales have been spectacular. I am confident that Jenn, with the terrific support of her first-rate team, is the right person to lead not only our […]