Harper Realigns Sales Group
HarperCollins is moving its pricing, promotional, market insight, and sales analytics efforts into the sales department, while streamlining its sales management team. As outlined in a memo from president of sales Josh Marwell, Frank Albanese will join the sales department as senior v-p, market insight and sales operations. Those gaining additional duties include Doug Jones, who will assume the role of senior v-p, group sales director for general books. About eight positions overall will be cut through retirements or layoffs.
HMH Restructuring Approved
The judge overseeing Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Chapter 11 proceedings approved the company’s restructuring plan on June 21, clearing the way for the publisher to emerge from bankruptcy. The plan will eliminate about $3 billion of debt, mainly by exchanging debt for equity.
Penguin Launches E-Lending Library
Penguin has announced a pilot program to digitally lend its titles through libraries. The program, which Penguin is partnering on with 3M (using its cloud library) and launching through the New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library, will make the publisher’s e-books available to libraries for a period of one year. Titles will be made available for lending six months after initial publication, and the program, which will launch at the NYPL in August, will roll out to libraries across the country if Penguin deems it a success.
Holtzbrinck Reorg Puts Sargent in Charge of Trade
The von Holtzbrinck Group, which has organized its international publishing operations along geographic lines, will now operate along publishing segments. Under the restructuring, Macmillan U.S. CEO John Sargent has been appointed head of the global trade division, while Annette Thomas, CEO of Macmillan UK, will lead the global science and education division. The restructuring becomes effective July 2. In his new role, Sargent will be in charge of Macmillan’s U.S. trade operation plus Holtzbrinck’s German, U.K., and Australian houses.
Sherer Leaves Basic Books
Basic Books publisher John Sherer is leaving the company for a job as director of the University of North Carolina Press. With Sherer’s departure, Lara Heimert moves into the role of publisher, and Clive Priddle has been promoted to publisher of PublicAffairs. Susan Weinberg has jumped from publisher of PublicAffairs to group publisher for Basic Books, Nation Books, and PublicAffairs. In the new organization, Priddle and Heimert will both report to Weinberg. In a final change, Bill Newlin will now oversee Westview Press, with Westview publisher Cathleen Tetro now reporting to him.
