People 8/17

Sean Desmond will join as vp, executive editor in September. He was publisher of Twelve Books.

Nico Medina has been promoted to vp, director managing editorial & production editorial, taking over as Gerard Mancini prepares to retire. Medina will report to Catharine Lynch, who heads the new companywide Bookmaking teams.

Director of interior design Maria Carella will retire on September 1. She started as an interior designer for Bantam Books in 1988. Over the course of her career she designed each of John Grisham’s books, as well as books by Hampton Sides, Susan Casey, Dan Brown, Chris Bohjalian, Hanya Yanagihara, and David Grann.

Kristen Bearse, designer director at Doubleday, writes, “We are grateful for all she has contributed to our books and for all her work nurturing our designers, illustrators, and mapmakers.”

Brett Duquette has been promoted to editorial director.

Peter Turner has joined as vp, associate publisher. He was previously associate publisher for five years at Red Wheel/Weiser (which distributes Hierophant).

Marissa Koors has joined as a literary agent, seeking non-fiction authors in history, philosophy, the ancient world, fashion, culture, the arts, and emerging science and technology. She was previously associate editor at Basic Books and Seal Press.

CEO Tony Lyons is also a chair of a super PAC supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s embarrassing campaign for president, which “has been rife with misinformation.” Skyhorse “has donated $150,000 to the group.”