Baker & Taylor has appointed George Coe CEO and president, succeeding Arnie Wight who retired January 15. Coe has been in the distribution business for 34 years and since 2000 has been president of B&T’s library and education division, the company’s largest group. Prior to joining B&T, Coe was v-p and general manager of Brodart Books’ library automation and K-12 software management divisions.
Coe is well known in the distribution and library worlds, and B&T credited him with being “instrumental in developing many of Baker & Taylor’s important programs, such as digital media and e-content platform delivery services, data analytics and outsourcing capabilities in collection development and technical services.” Coe also serves on several industry-related boards, including the board of visitors for the University of North Carolina’s School of Information and Library Science, and the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, which is a division of the American Library Association.
“I look forward to working with our excellent team to continue to enhance Baker & Taylor’s innovative solutions for our retail, library and education customers.” Coe said in a statement. “I am proud to lead Baker & Taylor at a time when exciting changes are taking place in all of the markets we serve.”
Wight will assume the role of non-executive chairman of B&T and will also work as a consultant for the company.
