People 8/18

Senior strategy officer Dan Cullen will retire at the end of 2021 after 35 years. He began his career as a bookseller in Massachusetts, and previously held numerous editorial positions at the ABA, including editor of the ABA’s publications and senior director of editorial content.

In the announcement, ABA ceo Allison Hill said, “I feel extraordinarily lucky to have worked with Dan during his final stretch at ABA. His decision to stay to help with the CEO transition as I started in 2020 ended up being more than he probably bargained for when the pandemic hit, but the support he has demonstrated for me, everyone at ABA, and members during the past year and a half proved to be his final extraordinary gift to ABA after his decades of service. We are grateful for his time at ABA and for the long lead time for us to get used to the idea of him not being here every day.”

Cullen called working at the ABA and with independent bookstores “the greatest professional gift anyone could hope for. There hasn’t been a day that I haven’t met someone, learned something, or been able to work with a colleague that I’m not grateful for. I’ve been very lucky to have been at ABA through really remarkable volunteer and staff leadership, and I’m leaving with especial gratitude to both Allison and [coo] Joy [Dallanegra-Sanger], who have been sustained — and sustaining — profiles of what extraordinary leadership looks like. I can’t wait to see what great things lie ahead for indie bookselling.”

Deena Fleming has joined as associate art director, Amulet Books. Previously, she was an associate art director at Scholastic Book Fairs with Canopy Books and Tangerine Press.

Martina Arzu will join as commissioning editor, working on Aria and Aries imprints. She is currently at Bookouture.

Faiza S. Khan is leaving to freelance edit.