Nicholas Weir-Williams has been appointed publishing director of Reed Press, the new book division of Reed Business Information that is being created by former PW publisher Fred Ciporen (News, Jan. 20). Weir-Williams held various publishing positions in the U.K. and Australia before becoming director of Northwestern University Press in 1992. He most recently served as publishing director of Continuum, which he joined in 1999. Weir-Williams will report to Ciporen, Reed Press president and publisher.

Weir-Williams said Reed Press is on schedule to release its first list this fall. The list will be an eclectic one, with Spanish-language titles, graphic novels and a young adult line, as well as business books that will be done in cooperation with RBI magazines such as PW, Variety and Interior Design. "There will also be some surprises and creative strategic partnerships that we're developing," Ciporen said, adding that Reed Press "has enthusiastic corporate support" from parent RBI.