At Scholastic, Shifa Kapadwala has been promoted to senior manager, global brand publicity.
WH Smith High Street Sales Fall Slightly
WH Smith announced preliminary results for the year, ended August 31, with sales up 28 percent to £1.79 billion. Trading profit, driven by the Travel division, was up £74 million to £164 million, and group profit before tax was £110 million, compared to £63 million in 2022 High street sales were £469 million, down from £473 million, with trading profit falling £2 million to £43 million, “in line with expectations.” The company closed 13 High Street stores in the period, bringing their total to 514. They say they are focused on efficiency and cost management, with savings of £15 million […]
Still Wily
Alex Blasdel has a “long read” piece in the Guardian about Andrew Wylie that’s a melange of eulogy, profile, mild takedown and perhaps book proposal. The reporter understands the Wylie myth-making and reporters’ role in perpetuating it, but at the same time can’t help but add to it: “Wylie is the world’s most mythologized literary agent, it is partly because the caricature of him as a plunderer of literary talent and pillager of other agencies has been so irresistible to the media, and at times to Wylie himself.” Yet he is billed as “the world’s most renowned – and for […]
Harper Children’s Promotes Executives
Following the abrupt departure of Harper Children’s president and publisher Suzanne Murphy in September, the division’s new top executive Liate Stehlik announced a number of promotions under her. “This new structure will bring together our editorial imprints, allowing us to publish to each group’s unique points of view and sensibilities more,” she wrote. Rich Thomas has been promoted svp, executive director publishing, HarperCollins Children’s Books, leading editorial strategy with oversight of the children’s group imprints. Nancy Inteli and Erica Sussman have been promoted to vp, publisher, for the Harper Group, continuing to report to Thomas. Inteli will add management of […]
Lagardere Becomes CEO of Hachette Livre
Arnaud Lagardère has been named chair and CEO of Hachette Livre, replacing Pierre Leroy, who took over following the departure of Arnaud Nourry after he had opposed the sale of the company. Leroy retains his other role as deputy ceo of parent company Lagardere, just as Mr. Lagardere retains his other role as ceo of the parent company (which presumably now leaves him reporting to…himself). Lagardère says in the announcement: “In light of the impending merger of the Lagardère group and Vivendi, I wanted to demonstrate my historical and deep-rooted attachment to the book trade, which the Lagardère family has […]
People 11/8
At Sourcebooks, Kavita Wright has been promoted to executive director of online marketing.