People 5/6

Kjersti Egerdahl has been promoted to editorial director for Amazon Original Stories.

Tyler Freidenrich has been promoted to associate creative director.

Sulaekha “Sue” Kolloru joins the company as chief strategy officer on May 16, reporting to CEO Andy Bird. She will “drive strategic planning across the company, advise on critical global and business priorities, help refine Pearson’s direct-to-consumer strategy, as well as chart the course for future growth. She will also lead the teams responsible for data, mergers and acquisitions, and oversee other investments and partnerships that support Pearson’s strategy.” Most recently she was vp of international-portfolio strategy and transformation at Delta Air Lines.

Dr. Antonio A. Fierro joins as chief academic advisor.

Senior advisor to management Carole M. Horne will retire on May 31. She was previously store manager, head buyer and general manager at the store in a 47-year career there, and also served as president of the New England Booksellers Association and an ABA board member. Co-owner of the bookstore Jeff Mayersohn, said, “We are sad to see Carole go, but happy that she will finally have more time to pursue her many interests, including voracious reading, of course. I cannot describe what an honor and joy it has been to work with Carole. Her intelligence, wisdom, humor, and knowledge of books and our industry have been critical to the store’s success through the years. There is not a single important decision throughout my wife’s and my tenure as co-owners where our first thought wasn’t, ‘Let’s get Carole’s opinion on this.’”

On Friday, May 13 from 1:00 PM Eastern to 3:00, ReadingGroupGuides.com will host a virtual version of its Annual Book Group Speed Dating Event. Representatives from 14 large, medium-sized and small publishers will share selections from their publishing houses to give booksellers, librarians and book group leaders an inside look at new and upcoming titles that book groups will want to know about — and discuss. Advance signup is required.