At Writers House, Maja Nikolic takes the new title of managing director, global licensing, continuing to oversee the international rights business. She will focus on adult fiction and non-fiction, overseeing and working closely with director of adult UK licensing Peggy Boulos Smith. Cecilia de la Campa has been promoted to the new role of executive director, global licensing and domestic partnerships, continuing to oversee the kids and YA international rights business, as well as now formally leading the agency’s expansion in domestic rights channels across their list – managing film/tv projects, theater adaptations, educational reprinting, and audio. Katie Stuart and […]
Personnel
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Former FBI director James Comey overcame his initial reluctance to write a book and has been meeting with publishers, ahead of an auction expected this week, run by Keith Urbahn and Matt Latimer at Javelin. Latimer tells the NYT, “It’s a book about leadership and his search for truth, informed by lessons and experiences he’s had throughout his career, including his recent experiences in the Trump administration.” The paper adds, “His aim is to write candidly about his experience serving in multiple administrations, and to use moments from his career to draw lessons about ethics, decision making and leadership.” Cherise […]
People
Lauren Christensen will join the books desk at the New York Times this month as a senior staff editor, editing fiction and nonfiction and overseeing visual books coverage. She was associate features editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Susan Ellingwood moves over to the group in August from the Opinion section. Susan will work on news and features, nonfiction book reviews, global books coverage and “a range of entrepreneurial efforts.” Margaret Thompson, managing directer of Penguin Random House New Zealand, will leave the company on July 28. Thereafter, publishing director Debra Millar, marketing and publicity director Siobhan Clare, and sales director Carrie Welch will all […]
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Lisa Bankoff has left ICM and established her own agency, Bankoff Collaborative. She says of the move: “I grew up at ICM and had the privilege of daily working alongside some of the brightest minds in this–or any–business. What I look forward to now is the wherewithal to operate outside of a corporate culture and do an even better job of serving the interests of the many clients who have moved with me.” Knopf editor George Andreou will take over as director of the Harvard University Press in September, following the recent retirement of William P. Sisler. Andreou joined Knopf in 1990, and co-founded […]
Raab and Futter to Start Division at Macmillan In September
Former Grand Central publisher Jamie Raab and former Grand Central editor-in-chief Deb Futter will join Macmillan on September 12 to start a new division, Celadon Books. Raab will be president and publisher and Futter will be senior vice president and co-publisher. The line expects to publish “a highly curated list of 20 to 25 new titles a year.” The release says the list “will strive to publish books that have range, depth, and impact” and draw on the founders’ “ability to publish commercial and literary books and discover and nurture talent.” Raab told the NYT, “I like the business too much” to […]
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Jacqueline de Jong will join HarperCollins Holland as publisher, starting September 1, succeeding Heleen Buth. Previously, she was interim publisher and freelance project manager at various publishing houses. HarperCollins Holland managing director Jan-Joris Keijzer said in the release: “Jacqueline is truly a book publishing specialist, who combines strong editorial knowledge with excellent commercial qualities, delivering outstanding publishing programs. Her experience and expertise makes her the ideal person to help realizing our ambitious growth targets.” Brandi Bowles has joined United Talent Agency as an agent. Previously, she was an agent for Foundry Literary + Media. At Kensington, Lulu Martinez has been promoted […]