Robby Imfeld joins Random House Children’s Books licensed & proprietary brand marketing team as associate marketing manager. He previously worked in marketing at Abrams. Former chairman of the William Morris Agency Norman Brokaw, 89, died on Saturday in Beverly Hills of complications from pneumonia. Brokaw started working in the WMA mailroom in 1943, when he was 15 — hired by his uncle Johnny Hyde. (As the NYT reminds us, “William Morris” himself was an immigrant born with the name Moses Zelman.)
Personnel
People, Etc.
Radhika Jones has joined the New York Times as editorial director, books, reporting to Pamela Paul. Previously Jones was at Time Magazine, the last three years as deputy managing editor. In her new role, Jones will oversee all review coverage in The Times, both from The Times’s staff critics, and in the pages of the NYTBR. She will also be working on features, news and overall digital strategy in conjunction with Paul, who said in the announcement: “I’ve admired Radhika Jones for years for her intelligence, literary acumen, keen news sensibility and entrepreneurial approach to journalism. She is not only […]
People, Etc.
Katrin Hagerty has joined Insight Editions as foreign rights salesperson, and Alison Corn has joined the company as assistant design manager. Former managing director of Palgrave Macmillan in the UK Jaime Marshall is launching a literary agency, focused on upmarket nonfiction and popular economics, psychology, and business. Marshall will work in partnership with A M Heath. In his first public remarks on being named the Nobel laureate for literature, Bob Dylan told a reporter for the Telegraph he is “absolutely” planning on attending the Nobel ceremony in Sweden on December 10, “if it’s at all possible.” He says the honor is “amazing, incredible. […]
New York City Council Passes Freelance Rules
With new Federal rules on overtime pay set to go into effect on December 1, New York City-based companies are facing the likelihood of still more record-keeping and pay requirements, now with respect to freelance workers. The New York City Council unanimously approved the Freelance Isn’t Free Act last Thursday, which goes to Mayor Bill Di Blasio to sign it into law. The act would take effect 180 days after signing. Under the potential new law, any freelance relationship that pays more than $800 over a four-month period requires a written contract. The act also mandates timely payment for freelancers, with stiff […]
Barnes & Noble Settles Boire’s Severance
Barnes & Noble has finalized a settlement agreement with former ceo Ronald Boire, fired after just over a year with the company. The retailer will pay Boire $4,825,600, and he will forfeit all equity awards. Boire and the company “agreed to release claims against each other in connection with Mr. Boire’s termination of employment.” As part of the agreement, BN also agreed to state in an 8-K SEC form the following language: “The Company regrets that things did not work out for the longer term between Mr. Boire and the Company. The Company appreciates Mr. Boire’s efforts on behalf of the Company, […]
People: Aitken Dies
Clare Alexander of Aitken Alexander announced the death of her business partner, literary agent Gillon Aitken “after a period of ill health.” She writes: “A towering figure in so many of our lives, publishing has lost a great agent from a brilliant generation. He was a wise counsel, a true intellectual and an irreplaceable friend.” She includes testimonials from a number of clients, including Sebastian Faulks: “Gillon was one of my closest friends. He was was one of my closest friends. He was also my literary agent for 30 years…. As an agent, he was creative, mischievous and drove a hard bargain; but he […]