On the events calendar, the Association of American Publishers announced some of the speakers for their annual meeting on March 19 in New York, focused on The Next Chapter in Protecting IP: Policy, Disruption, Innovation and Sustainability. Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Rep. Jerry Nadler will discuss Congress’s first comprehensive review of copyright law since 1976 with AAP ceo Tom Allen. Author Jaron Lanier will speak, as will Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey, with a keynote speaker still to be named. Kim Hovey has been promoted to svp, deputy publisher for Ballantine […]
Personnel
Rakuten Installs Japanese CEO At Kobo, and More People News
Kobo’s parent company Rakuten has installed Takahito “Taka” Aiki as the new ceo of Kobo, effective immediately, with founder and ceo Michael Serbinis stepping aside into the role of vice chairman. Aiki was ceo of another Rakuten subsidiary, the Japanese telecom unit Fusion Communications. In a statement reported on by the Financial Post, Rakuten said, “Taka brings to the role a wealth of experience in building and growing successful projects and companies, and has built his career on achieving ambitious goals and forging strong teams.” It is said that he will relocate to Kobo’s headquarters in Toronto. According to his […]
People, Etc.
Today’s Penguin Random House announcement presents a unified cross-company executive team in the US finance group (and associated services), under cfo Coram Williams. Random House’s Milena Alberti takes the new position of svp, head of global corporate finance for Penguin Random House. A number of others now formally have responsibilities across Penguin Random House, including: SVP, corporate director, business affairs, John Schline (responsible for contracts and permissions) SVP, worldwide reporting and planning, James Johnston Group controller, Tom Stefanik SVP, royalty operation, Pauline James SVP, credit, payroll & disbursements, William Sinnott SVP, corporate services, Mariella Molloy Meanwhile, executive director, publishing contracts […]
People, Etc.
After more than 20 years at ICM, agent Heather Schroder left the firm recently to start her own agency, Compass Talent. Her first deal under the new banner, with Flatiron Books, is posted today in our deal reports. Kelley Allen has joined Humble Bundle as director of ebooks. Previously she was a senior vendor manager at Kobo and before that, director of ebookstore and publishing relations at Diesel. At Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jen Reynolds has been promoted to director of field sales. At Vintage/Anchor, Claudia Martinez has been promoted to design director. Manager of production and digital distribution at Random […]
People, Etc.
Mary Beth Roche has been promoted to vp, president and publisher at Macmillan Audio, and will continue to oversee the Quick and Dirty Tips website and podcast business as well as the Macmillan Speakers Bureau. JK Rowling is suing the Daily Mail for libel over an article from last fall that “misrepresented her comments” about single motherhood and caused her “great distress and embarrassment.” According to the Guardian, Rowling believes the Mail story, headlined “How JK Rowling’s sob story about her past as a single mother has left the churchgoers who cared for her upset and bewildered”, was “premised on […]
People
Follett has named Todd Litzsinger chairman of the board, effective immediately. He succeeds Steve Waichler, who held the role on an interim basis following the passing of Follett’s former chairman, Alison O’Hara, last July. A fourth-generation Follett family member, Litzsinger first joined the company in 1992 and has served on the company board since 2003. At Simon & Schuster, Bryony Weiss has been promoted to senior marketing manager in the corporate marketing group. At Kids Can Press, Naseem Hrab has been promoted to marketing director. In addition, Carly Slack has been named senior manager, licensing and retail development, moving over […]