Jeffrey Batzli has been named creative director, trade books at Rodale, effective August 1. Previously he was creative director of Barnes & Noble’s publishing business, including the Art, Photography and Production departments of the B&N Bargain trade division, and also Sterling’s trade division. At the Quarto Group, Iain MacGregor has been hired as publisher for Aurum Press. He was formerly publishing director of Collins in the UK. Aurum’s list will “reorientate back to its illustrated roots.” Writer, researcher and sex therapist Virginia Johnson, 88, died Wednesday in St. Louis. Along with longtime collaborator (and onetime husband) William Masters, Johnson “helped […]
Personnel
People
At Razorbill, Caroline Donofrio has been promoted to editor. At Random House Children’s, Books, Danielle Rollins has been promoted to marketing coordinator. At Llewellyn Worldwide, Tom Lund has been promoted to director of sales and marketing, replacing Rhonda Ogren upon her retirement. In addition, Kat Sanborn has joined the company as senior publicist. Jane Austen will appear on the £10 note starting in 2017, the Bank of England announced Wednesday. “Jane Austen certainly merits a place in the select group of historical figures to appear on our banknotes. Her novels have an enduring and universal appeal and she is recognised […]
People
Maria Rodale, who took over as chairman and ceo of the family-owned company in 2009 from Steve Murphy, told staff in a memo last week “we have begun a search to fill two important roles — a president and chief operating officer — each of whom will report to me.” Random House Children’s Group has announced a number of changes and additions to its marketing division. Kimberly Lauber has joined as director of marketing, having previously worked as director of marketing and publicity, children’s books for Chronicle Books. Laura Antonacci will join the School and Library team on August 12 […]
People: Adjustments at Westview, and More
Perseus Books Group group publisher Bill Newlin announced some changes at the Westview Press unit which reports to him, to “meet [the] challenges” as textbook publishing is in transition, “beginning with a reconfigured editorial department based in Berkeley, and an expanded marketing department based in Boulder.” Associate editorial director Toby Wahl, senior acquisitions editor Leanne Silverman, and editorial assistant Brooke Smith are leaving the company. Avalon acquisitions director Grace Fujimoto will now manage Westview acquisitions as well as travel, reporting to Newlin. Fujimoto will chair an acquisitions committee that includes Westview publisher Cathleen Tetro and Newlin. Joining Westview in Boulder […]
People, Etc.
At Other Press, Marjorie DeWitt has been promoted to editor. The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) announced three new hires, along with a new organizational structure “around our core competencies of standards, research, and education, and supported by our first real coordinated marketing effort.” Thomson Guster is coordinator of education and events, and Julie Morris is project manager, standards and best practices (she was project manager for the web production team at Columbia University’s Center for Digital Research and Scholarship). Jeanette Zwart is focused on marketing strategy, after working as vp, sales at Harper Collins, and current staff member Nadine […]
Lonely Planet Plans Broad Layoffs In “Challenging” Market
Lonely Planet announced layoffs internally, called “a series of changes to its operations in response to a challenging external environment and to position the company for continued success.” They warned that “a number of positions at our offices around the world have the potential to be affected and we are in consultation with individuals whose roles may be impacted.” Australian media accounts estimated the layoffs at 80 to 100 jobs, mostly in Australia, but COO Daniel Houghton appears to have “confirmed around 70- 80 roles would be made redundant worldwide” to the Sydney Morning Herald. Houghton told Skift.com, which first […]