People 6/25

Publisher and ceo Meg LaBorde Kuehn will leave on July 11 after 14 years at the company. Judy Hottensen, formerly vice president and associate publisher of Grove/Atlantic, will become interim ceo and assume all of the duties formerly performed by Kuehn. Kuehn joined in 2011 as vice president of business development.

“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to lead this extraordinary company through change and growth,” said Kuehn. “I’m most grateful for the opportunity to have worked with and encountered so many exceptional people through Kirkus. Their talent, integrity and dedication to books and the power of reading have been a constant source of inspiration and have made this journey profoundly meaningful.”

Briana Wood has been promoted to assistant editor.

Josh Sippie has joined as editor, Harper Alley. He was previously at Barnes & Noble.

Kesia Lupo will join as commissioning editor on July 7, reporting to publishing director Emma Jones. She will “manage and publish key fiction authors across Macmillan Children’s Books and the growing First Ink imprint, building her own list with an initial focus on YA.” She was previously at Donald Maass Literary Agency.

Lauren Eldridge joins as an agent, specializing in fiction and narrative nonfiction. She was previously freelance consulting.

Craig Pyette joins as an agent, specializing in researched nonfiction. Pyette was previously senior editor at Random House and Knopf Canada.

Kelly Rankin has been named senior manager, customer operations.

Taylor Berry has been promoted to group director, in-market & digital sales.

Serina Mercer has joined as senior publicist at Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers.

Athmika Punja has been promoted to head of operations and retail sales director.