One of the new roles Phyllis Grann will play as an independent consultant is that of a member of the board of advisers at the private equity firm Leeds, Weld. Members of the firm, which invests in educational and information publishing companies, include former Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Newcomb. Newcomb told PW Grann will help Leeds, Weld identify possible acquisition candidates in the publishing field. Other board members include former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Secretaries of Education Lamar Alexander and Richard Riley.