Berrett-Koehler Publishers has named Praveen Madan its new CEO and publisher, succeeding David Marshall, who has retired from the position after 17 years with the publisher. Madan, a one-time chair of Berrett-Koehler, moves to the publisher from Kepler's Books in Menlo Park, Calif., where he has been CEO since 2012, and where he cofounded the bookselling initiative Reimagining Bookstores. Madan will continue as CEO of Kepler's and board member of the nonprofit Kepler's Literary Foundation.
“Praveen brings the best of both outsider and insider experience through his business consulting career, followed by his dynamic independent bookselling leadership, combined with serving from 2009 to 2020 on the BK board of directors, including two years as board chair,” Berrett-Koehler founder and senior editor Steve Piersanti said in a statement. “Praveen brings intimate knowledge of BK’s business and culture along with fresh, innovative outsider perspectives.”
Madan's appointment comes as Berrett-Koehler acknowledged that it “has been facing financial difficulties over the past year due to several factors, including the lingering effects of the pandemic and market pressures within BK’s areas of publishing.” The company has published about 1,000 titles on business, economics, personal development, and social justice since it was founded by Piersanti in 1992. Its annual sales have hovered around $10 million over the last several years; sales for 2023 were not available at press time.
“I have always believed that the right person shows up at the right time and that is the case with our selection of Praveen as Berrett-Koehler's new CEO and publisher,” Berrett-Koehler board chair and author Joyce Roché said. “Praveen has the brainpower, book industry experience, and passion for Berrett-Koehler that are needed at this challenging time in the company's history.”
Madan added, in his own statement, “I am deeply honored and grateful to have this opportunity to serve the global Berrett-Koehler community, which has been a source of profound learning and unwavering generosity.” His goal, as per a release, is to envision “a new publishing model for BK that continues to deepen its roots as an author-friendly, mission-based book publisher and expands innovation and collaboration with partners.”
In an email to PW, Madan identified a common connection among the enterprises he has led. “The unifying theme across Kepler’s, Reimagining Bookstores, and Berrett-Koehler is that we are seeking to build a global movement to cocreate a world that works for all by using inclusive and participatory methods,” he said.
