As promised, Michael Pietsch, CEO of Hachette Book Group, has moved quickly to find a successor to Jamie Raab, who announced in December that she plans to step down as president and publisher of Grand Central Publishing at the end of January. Pietsch tapped Ben Sevier, most recently v-p and publisher of Dutton, as senior v-p and publisher of Grand Central Publishing. He will start February 27, and report to Pietsch.
According to HBG, Sevier will be responsible for Grand Central's direction and publishing, overseeing the division’s editorial, marketing, publicity, and design teams, and will also join HBG's executive management board.
Sevier has spent 17 years in the publishing industry. Prior to joining Dutton 10 years ago, he held editorial roles as Simon & Schuster, St. Martin’s, and HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Writers Sevier has worked with include bestselling novelists Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, Jonathan Tropper, Tami Hoag, Joseph Finder, and Linda Fairstein, and he published the first books by bestselling novelists Louise Penny, Charles Finch, Selden Edwards, Brad Taylor, Daniel Suarez, and Jussi Adler-Olsen, HBG said. In addition, Seier acquired and edited a broad range of nonfiction, including the two-million-copy seller No Easy Day by Navy SEAL Mark Owen.
"I have admired Ben Sevier's work for many years. He is a superb publisher of commercial fiction and nonfiction both, and combines acquisitions acumen with strong marketing, team-building, financial, and leadership skills,” Pietsch said.
Speaking to his new job, Sevier said, "Grand Central is doing some of the most dynamic and effective publishing in the business, and taking the helm there is a rare opportunity to lead an already superb publishing program to greater heights.”
