People 4/20

The fallout from the firing last week of longtime CEO of Hachette-owned Grasset Olivier Nora continues. Controlling owner Vincent Bollore confirmed that Nora was fired due to a dispute over the publication date for author Bouale Sansal’s account of his imprisonment in an Algerian jail, which will be released on June 6. “The head of Grasset had wanted to release it at the end of the year—a move contrary to the wishes of Hachette’s management, the true owner of Grasset,” Bollore wrote in a column in Le Journal du Dimanche, a publication he owns.

Bollore noted: “As for the attacks concerning my ‘ideology,’ I reiterate once again: I am a Christian Democrat, and Hachette’s management will continue to publish all authors who wish to be published.” Regarding the authors who have signed an open letter saying they will not agree to published by Grasset in the future, Bollore wrote: “Grasset will continue, and those who are leaving will allow new authors to be published, promoted, recognized, and appreciated.” He blames “a small caste that believes itself to be above everything and everyone and that co-opts and supports itself.”

Bollore also says the “dispute unfolded against a backdrop of highly disappointing economic performance” at Grasset. Sales fell from €16.5 million in 2024 to €12 million in 2025 and operating profit dropped in half, to €0.6 million in 2025. Bollore writes that Nora’s compensation “rose from €830,000 to €1.017 million” during the same period. He asks about the controversy in the press over an imprint with 38 employees (“out of the 33,000 within the Lagardère Group”): “How is this possible? At a time when the financial and social situation of millions of French people is, in fact, genuinely concerning, how can this affair create such a commotion?”

Because it is France. Le Monde writes that Nora is expected to soon join his friend Denis Olivennes, who recently became chair and ceo of Editis.

Socialist senator Sylvie Robert has called for the creation of “conscience clause” for authors “in the event of a radical change in editorial line,” said to be supported by Horizons MP Jérémie Patrier-Leitus — who told AFP that he was “working on a law” that would allow “the compulsory and automatic inclusion in publishing contracts of a clause known as ‘intuitu personae,'” which would allow for the termination of authors’ contracts if their publisher leaves the company.

Jesse Shuman has joined as senior editor, acquiring commercial and upmarket fiction. He was previously at Ballantine Books.

Hannah Lopez has joined as a marketing associate. She was previously at Riverhead.

Katie Ferriello joins as literary agent, focusing on romance and children’s literature.