In a brief announcement this week, the Association of American Publishers announced that longtime executive Allan Adler will "exit his position" as executive v-p and general counsel of the organization, effective October 15.
"With the Board of Directors, I want to thank Allan for his tireless public policy work on behalf of the publishing industry over the course of some 24 years," reads a September 21 statement from AAP CEO Maria Pallante. "As a lawyer, leader, and advocate for AAP, Allan applied great skill and expertise to countless complex issues and proceedings—both domestic and international—and helped to define, defend, and advance the rights of copyright and freedom of expression that are essential to the creative industries and marketplace of ideas. As large and small publishing houses made important, dynamic transitions to online distribution, e-books, audiobooks, and digital learning platforms, Allan helped to guide the corresponding critical response to Internet-era public policy challenges. We will miss his comradery in the office and the passion that he brought to every project."
Pallante added: "I know that I speak for the entire AAP community in wishing him all good things in his next chapter." For the moment, what the next chapter will be for Adler, however, remains unclear.
"I want to thank all of the people with whom I’ve worked over the years—in whatever capacity or context—to define, advance, and defend the rights of free speech and copyright protection as essential to any modern publisher’s enterprise," Adler said in response to a follow-up from PW, in a statement issued through AAP. "Guarantees of such rights and protections are the least that a society can provide in recognition of the indispensable role that AAP members play in enriching our personal and social lives, and in opening doors to comprehension for all of the interests of the human mind, as they continue to bring us the creative works of authors from boundless origins and with infinite variety."
Adler's departure comes days after Macmillan CEO John Sargent, the AAP's longest-serving officer, resigned his position as chairman of the AAP board, following the surprise announcement that he would be leaving Macmillan at the end of the year. Wiley CEO Brian Napack, currently AAP vice-chairman, will assume leadership of the board.
This article has been updated for clarity and with further information.
