Simon & Schuster publisher Jon Karp says that the imprint’s editor-in-chief Priscilla Painton will take the new position of vp, executive editor, focused on major nonfiction titles. He writes in the announcement that “when Priscilla and I began discussing how to make the best use of her time and talent, it became clear to both of us that her passion is for finding great writers and working closely with them to create compelling books. In taking on this more purely editorial role, absent administrative responsibilities, she will be able to apply her considerable abilities exclusively to acquisitions and editorial work.” […]
Personnel
People, Etc.
Nielsen BookScan general manager Jim King, who has been with the US version of the data service since it started in 2000, is leaving the company later this month to pursue new opportunities. President of Nielsen Book Jonathan Nowell says, “Jim has been an outstanding colleague and I have really appreciated his efforts over the past ten years. He has done a great job with BookScan and worked tirelessly on behalf of his clients to help improve the efficiency of the US book business.” An announcement on succession will be made later. James Peltz and Donna Dixon have been named […]
People
Octopus in the UK will cut 19 people and another 10 have accepted “voluntary redundancy,” the Bookseller reports, comprising almost 30 percent of the staff of 104 people. At Yale University Press, Ileene Smith has been promoted to executive editor-at-large; Tim Shea has been promoted to editor of foreign languages; and Laura Davulis has been promoted to editor, digital development. Harper Children’s vp, director of inventory management and member of their executive committee David Toberisky will retire at the end of the year after 23 years at the company. Sheryl Moore-Anderson will rejoin the division in August as director of […]
People
Adam Friedstein has joined Anderson Literary Management as an agent primarily representing debut literary fiction, literary thrillers and suspense, young adult fiction, and narrative and serious nonfiction. He was previously at Trident Media Group.” At Perseus, vp, business operations Clare Peeters has had her role expanded to vp, corporate strategy and business development. She has “played a critical role in both the creation and the ongoing activities of our joint ventures with both The Daily Beast and The Weinstein Company,” as well as the expansion of Constellation.Ruth Esehak-Gillespie has joined Macmillan’s International Sales Division as sales and promotions coordinator, based […]
Grand Central Associate Publisher Les Pockell Dies at 68 of Cancer
Grand Central associate publisher for the past decade Les Pockell, 68, died at home on Monday. Publisher Jamie Raab tells the AP “she liked to call him ‘The Professor’ because Pockell knew so much about so many subjects and would become visibly animated in discussion. ‘He was the smartest person we knew.'” His former boss Larry Kirshbaum “remembered Pockell as a thinking man who stood out at a relatively commercial publishing house. He was also regarded as a mentor with a great deal to teach and a willingness to let others take the credit.”AP
Susan Kamil Promoted to Publisher at Random House
Gina Centrello announced this morning the promotion of Random House editor-in-chief Susan Kamil to publisher of both the Random House and Dial Press imprints, reporting Centrello. Most editorial staff will report to Kamil, who will “continue to edit a select number of books a year”–except for Kate Medina, who continues to report directly to Centrello. In other adjustments, Tom Perry is relinquishing his responsibilities for the entire Random House publishing group to return to Little Random as deputy publisher, and he will serve as publisher of The Modern Library as well.Theresa Zoro moves up to svp, director of publicity for […]