Julia Cowlishaw has been named the new CEO of Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, Calif., and Book Soup in West Hollywood, Calif. She begins on January 6, taking over from Allison Hill, who is assuming the role of CEO of the American Booksellers Association on March 1.
A California native, Cowlishaw began her career in books at Warwick's Books & Stationary in La Jolla, Calif. In 2002 she became general manager of Shaman Drum Bookshop in Ann Arbor, Mich. In 2007 joined Ingram, first in field sales and most recently serving as director of national accounts for Ingram Content Group based out of Berkeley, Calif.
Cowlishaw is a board member of the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) has also served on the boards of the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association (GLIBA) and as a committee member for the Ann Arbor Book Festival. She has served on the ABA Bookseller Advisory Council and has been a Nashville Literacy Council tutor and Independent Booksellers Consortium member.
"[Cowlishaw] brings to the position significant and varied industry experience, along with a spirit that closely aligns with the core values of our company," said Hill. "I am leaving leaving Vroman's and Book Soup in very good hands."
