Michael Pietsch, previously v-p, executive editor at Little, Brown, has been named v-p and editor-in-chief, succeeding William Phillips, who will continue working with the company as a v-p and senior executive editor.

In his new position, Phillips will relinquish his administrative duties and return to full-time acquiring and editing. He has worked at Little, Brown for 32 years, for the last 11 years serving as editor-in-chief. Sara Crichton, publisher of Little, Brown, explained, "After 11 years, Bill is eager for a change, and he deserves to get his wish."

Pietsch praised Phillips, whose authors (among them James Patterson, Pete Hamill and Steve Gaines) have been fixtures on the bestseller lists this year. "Phillips is having a great year," said Pietsch, "and he'll be around to bring in more books."

Pietsch will direct LB's editorial activities; he told PW that he will "have more of a role in shaping the list. But this won't preclude me from continuing to acquire and edit."

Pietsch joined Little, Brown in 1991 after working at Charles Scribner's Sons and Harmony Books. Among the writers he has edited at Little, Brown are John Feinstein, Walter Mosley, Rick Moody and David Foster Wallace.