People 9/10

Emeritus evp, corporate communications Stuart Applebaum will step down from the company on September 30 after 52 years with associated companies, making him “Bertelsmann’s longest-tenured employee in North America.” Applebaum decided to retire at the beginning of the year, and kept the news close to the vest until this month’s tie-in: “Next week, I celebrate my diamond birthday. I feel fine, and I am still performing at my peak, full tilt, full time, Monday to Sunday. But it’s time.”

CEO Nihar Malaviya and evp, director, communications & social responsibility Claire von Schilling write together: “His legacy is not just attributable to his longevity but to his profound impact on our publishing programs and operations, our colleagues, and our trade community worldwide. Stuart has supported several generations of authors, publishers, and journalists by communicating our company’s daily news and aggregated history—and helping us make both in the process.”

They add: “Through it all, Stuart has always and immediately been available for every kind of comms topic time and again with his signature clarity, vigor, common sense, thick skin, and rare ability to see around corners…. It has been reassuring, especially when we have a high-stakes issue, to know that Stuart can advise us and help solve it. But his contributions to our community go beyond communications. He also has been an incredible mentor to countless individuals over the years, including former assistants of his who went on to be publicity executives across the industry.”

In his own memo Applebaum recalls his path from a “brash, and often petulant, and obnoxious” publicist at Bantam “loudly saying things that didn’t need saying aloud by me. Over time, I earned the promotions, which helped me to grow-up, shut-up, and step-up.” Plus: “I still remember tangling, solo, on the phone, with Roy Cohn over the provenance of the Iacocca acquisition. (He abruptly stopped calling.) Losing my beloved author Shirley MacLaine’s luggage on her book tour in the Cleveland airport (the airline eventually found it). Standing by haplessly as General Schwarzkopf got splattered with fake red blood by a protestor at his Seattle Costco memoirs signing (we beefed up security). My 50-year Passion Project: “Riding the river” with Kathy, Beau, Angelique, and Louis L’Amour, for decades best known somewhat dismissively as a writer of popular paperback westerns, as he gradually became acknowledged as one of America’s most widely read #1 bestselling hardcover novelists.”

From here, “I will continue running my solo Stuart S. Applebaum Giving Foundation, now in its 22nd year. Intend to stay healthy. Will try to go to bed every night, and wake up every morning, without my respective last and first thoughts being about PRH. Am curious to know how well that will play out.”

Tim O’Connell becomes vp, publisher, moving over from his role as editorial director of fiction at the Simon & Schuster imprint, reporting to Sean Manning. He will continue to acquire literary fiction and select nonfiction for the S&S list.

Joe Monti is promoted to vp, associate publisher and editorial director, reporting to O’Connell.

Ella Laythem joins as art director. She was at Penguin Random House.

Matthew Benjamin has been promoted to editorial director, Harmony.

Donna Loffredo has been promoted to executive editor, director of author development, Harmony and Rodale Books.

Dervla Kelly has been promoted to editorial director, Rodale Lifestyle.

Michele Eniclerico has been promoted to senior editor, Harmony.

Arnaud Nourry’s start-up will be distributed in France by Flammarion Diffusion and Union Distribution, one of the distribution subsidiaries of Groupe Madrigall. The agreement will cover all of the lines that Nouveaux Editeurs works with.

Ronald Blunden tells the Bookseller their first publisher agreement “should be finalized in the next couple of weeks.” Plus, “A second one should be brought in before Christmas, and two more should follow early next year.”

Separately, last week Madrigall announced an agreement to acquire Christian Bourgois Editeur and Editions Globe.

Rachel Richardson, previously of Watson, Little, has launched Rich Lit, a literary rights agency. The company specializes in children’s books, commercial and upmarket fiction for adults, select nonfiction, and international titles, representing global rights on behalf of literary agencies and independent publishers.

Amanda R. Livingston has been promoted to marketing manager.