Longtime president and publisher Lara Heimert will retire from her position on June 5. Heimert joined Basic Books in 2005 as executive editor and became publisher in 2012.
Associate publisher Brian Distelberg will take over as president and publisher.
HBG ceo David Shelley says in the announcement, “I’m hugely grateful to Lara for 21 years of incredible publishing. She leaves us a legacy of books that are foremost in their fields, and she also leaves us after a record-breaking 2025 for the Basic Books Group: heartening both for us as a company and for everyone who cares about the market for quality non-fiction publishing. And I’m so pleased to announce Brian Distelberg as Lara’s successor. I’m very much looking forward to working more closely with Brian, who has proved himself as a thoughtful, smart, highly market-aware editor and publisher, and who I know will lead the fantastic Basic Books Group team to new heights.”
Heimert says, “I have been incredibly lucky to spend the last twenty-one years working with some of the smartest scholars in the world, and alongside a brilliant group of colleagues. It is largely because of BBG’s extraordinary team that I feel comfortable stepping away and letting the next generation carry the mission forward.”
Sourcebooks
Anna Michels has been promoted to senior editorial director of Sourcebooks Nonfiction, and will focus exclusively on that program, relinquishing her leadership of Poisoned Pen Press.
Samantha Smith joins as vp, associate publishing director of Poisoned Pen Press. She was previously vp, publisher for James Patterson at Little, Brown.
Harper Collins
Roxanne Finkelstein will be taking on the newly created role of director, publishing operations, managing editorial.
Gina Macdonald has been promoted to associate director, production editorial.
Taryn Ortolan has been promoted to assistant manager, production editorial.
Erin Pinksen has been promoted to assistant manager, production editorial.
