Tom Allen, CEO of the Association of American Publishers since 2009, has announced that he will retire in early 2017. Before he was named CEO of the AAP, Allen served for six terms in Congress representing Maine.
The AAP board of directors will begin a search for a new CEO and has retained the recruitment firm of Isaascon Miller to assist in the process.
AAP has grown to a nearly 400 member organization during Allen’s tenure as CEO. Under his leadership the organization added major commercial publishers, digital learning, educational and professional publishers, independent presses, nonprofit houses, university presses and scholarly societies.
In a statement Allen said: "After 20 years [of] commuting to and from Washington, it’s time for me to return to Maine and dedicate myself to part-time and mostly voluntary activities like environmental conservation, writing, and perhaps teaching about Congress and American politics.”
He added: “It has been a privilege to lead AAP these past seven years, and I am proud of all we have accomplished. I look forward to working with the AAP board and management team as we prepare for the leadership transition.”
