People 3/6

Michael “Mike” Shoults has joined in the newly created role of chief operating officer. Shoults will report to Matt Wright, ceo of HBGUS Distribution and oversee both the warehouse operations in Indian and the fulfilment departments located in Boston and Indiana. Shoults was previously global head of supply chain for Heyday.

Eric Miller has been hired as the company’s first director of data and information science. He will oversee their data repositories; the introduction of supplemental search and visual knowledge maps; and the development of next-generation discovery tools.

Most recently, Miller served as chief strategist for EBSCO Information Services. He has been a senior research scientist at OCLC, and has held significant roles as a research scientist at MIT and as the president and founder of Zepheira.

Effective March 15, 2025, IPG domestic sales to independent bookstores will be managed by three commission sales representative groups: Fujii Associates (Midwest and TOLA (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas), Imprint Group (Western US), and Como Sales (Eastern US). The company says that the change “will bring renewed sales energy to drive opportunity for our publishers.” It’s an expansion of sales coverage, after having “moved to a limited number of inside sales reps at the beginning of the pandemic”

Two of their three staff field reps are being laid off, while the third, Travis Hale, has been promoted to field sales manager, overseeing the three rep groups.

Brad Fish has been promoted to manager, educational and library sales, overseeing sales into the educational wholesale channel.

In the UK, IPG has partnered with Gardners for distribution and will be represented by Compass for academic and professional sales. (Gazelle already covers sales and distribution for trade titles.)

Sara McCrea has joined in the newly created role of podcast specialist, reporting to svp, director of publicity and strategic communications Susan Corcoran. McCrea has produced podcasts for Pushkin Industries, Slate Magazine, TED Audio Collective, Audible, Center for Humane Technology, and American Public Media.

Annalisa Sheldahl has been promoted to senior designer.

Nicole Block has been promoted to art director.

At Grand Central Publishing:

Estefania Acquaviva is promoted to senior publicist.

Ian Dorset is promoted to assistant editor.

Jacqueline Young is promoted to editor.

Dana Li has been promoted to art director.

Taylor Parker-Means has been promoted to marketing designer.

At Forever/Grand Central Publishing:

Estelle Hallick has been promoted to senior director, marketing & publicity.

Carolina Martin has been promoted to senior digital marketing manager.

Grace Fischetti has been promoted to assistant editor.

Daniela Medina has been promoted to senior art director.

Camille O’Garro is promoted to Director of Contracts, head of children’s contracts.

Sara Sheiner is promoted to Contracts Manager.

Camila Guitron is promoted to contracts associate.

Emily Hernandez is promoted to contracts coordinator.