People 6/26

Lori Benton joins as senior vice president, children’s publishing. Benton was most recently vice president, publisher at Scholastic, overseeing Orchard Books, Scholastic Press Picture Books, Cartwheel, Scholastic Audio, and Weston Woods.

Caroline Priday will step down from her role as co-head of PUP Europe on June 26. Following her retirement, Kimberley (Kim) Williams, fellow co-head of PUP Europe and digital and audio publisher, will become the head of PUP Europe, while retaining her publisher remit. Priday has worked at the publisher since 2005.

She says in a release, “I feel so grateful to have spent the last twenty years at PUP which has been the highlight of my publishing career. I wish my successor Kim Williams, who has been a wonderful thought partner for the last 18 years, all the very best in steering PUP Europe to new heights.”

Carter Wilken has been promoted to assistant editor of Quill Tree Books and Heartdrum.

Zaynah Ahmed has been promoted to marketing associate.

Andrew Arens has been promoted to associate director, quality assurance, platform development.

Andrea Morales has been promoted to manager, contracts.

Alexis Dunbar joined as vp, real estate and facilities.

Kelly Rankin has been named senior manager, customer operations.

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

Serina Mercer has been hired as senior publicist for Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers.

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

Their July pick is The Uproar, by Karim Dimechkie.