Citing a record year of growth in 2014, Skyhorse Publishing announced the first phase of a company-wide reorganization that will see the promotion of Julie Matysik to editorial director of children’s and educational publishing. Skyhorse has also announced an expanded role for managing editor Rodger Weinfeld, and the promotion of Sam Caggiula to director of publicity.
The changes come about a month after the hiring of Alex Merrill as Skyhorse's chief operating officer. The publisher said the changes are designed to create efficiencies, maximize sales and foster closer collaboration between Skyhorse and its distributor, Perseus.
“We now have the right people in leadership roles here, at the right time. [We also have the] structure to support continued growth,” Merrill said.
Matysik, who has been with Skyhorse since 2009, will oversee a staff of three editors in its children’s department. She will continue to acquire and edit titles, primarily picture books and middle grade. Matysik will also manage, and acquire for, the company’s education line. Weinfeld will oversee all production and trafficking. Skyhorse’s five production editors and three additional production personnel will now report to Weinfeld. Caggiula will oversee a publicity department that has been expanded from three publicists to six.
The reorganization comes in the wake of a record year at Skyhorse, with sales late year topping $32 million, a 23% increase over 2013. The company projects continued growth in 2015. After more than 20 hires over the last year, Skyhorse now employs about 70 people in six states; the publisher plans to add at least 11 more employees over the next year.
Skyhorse also plans to take additional office space on another floor of its current Manhattan location on West 36th Street. The house’s lease on the space runs through 2017. “It made sense to move up, rather than move out,” Merrill said, explaining that the house, which currently has office space on the 11th floor, will take space on the 12th floor as well.
Skyhorse founder, president and publisher Tony Lyons, said: “This is an exciting time at Skyhorse with lots of changes, new hires, promotions and a new office. I’m incredibly grateful to all the people, both current and past employees and partners, whose hard work has made our success possible.”
