Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch announced that Susan Weinberg, currently executive v-p and publisher of HBG's Perseus Books division, has been appointed executive v-p and publisher of the Workman Publishing group. Weinberg will succeed Dan Reynolds, who is retiring at the end of the year.
“I’m thrilled that Susan Weinberg has enthusiastically agreed to step into this important role," said Pietsch. "Susan is known for her energy, tenacity, and perspicacity, her exceptionally empathetic leadership, and her strategic approach to our business. She has played a central role as HBG’s publishing lead in the integration of Workman into HBG’s systems, making her familiar to Workman colleagues."
Weinberg joined HBG as part of the company's acquisition of Perseus Books Group in 2016. She has been publisher of the company's PublicAffairs imprint since 2005, then Group Publisher, and led Perseus's five imprint groups, Avalon Travel, Basic Books, Hachette Books, PublicAffairs and Running Press.
At Workman, Weinberg's direct reports will be Stacy Lellos, v-p and publisher of Workman Kids and Algonquin Young Readers; Lia Ronnen, v-p and publisher of Workman Adult and Artisan; Page Edmunds, v-p and publisher of Workman Calendars; Betsy Gleick, v-p and publisher of Algonquin Books; Deborah Balmuth, v-p and publisher of Storey Publishing; Kathryn Juergens; v-p and publisher of Timber Press, Rebecca Carlisle, v-p of marketing and publicity; and David Schiller, Group Creative Director.
“The spirit of independent publishing at Workman is wonderfully familiar to me from my years at Perseus," said Weinberg in a release. "I’m immensely proud of the contributions of the Perseus publishers and their teams to HBG and am excited and energized as I shift my focus to Workman, to do all I can to help them grow and thrive."
Weinberg's move to Workman also opens up an opportunity for leadership realignment at Perseus, said Pietsch, for "growth and expansion for the Perseus publishers and their teams."
With Weinberg's appointment, the following changes were also announced by HBG at Perseus effective January 1, 2023: Lara Heimert will continue as publisher of Basic and Seal Press, and Clive Priddle, v-p and publisher of PublicAffairs and Bold Type Books, will report to her.
At Running Press Group, Kristin Kiser is promoted to senior v-p and publisher, and will remain publisher of Running Press and Black Dog & Leventhal, and Bill Newlin, v-p and publisher of Avalon Travel, will now report to her. Lara, Kristin, and Mary Ann Naples, v-p and publisher of Hachette Books, will report to Pietsch.
“It gives me great calm and happiness to know that Susan will lead the Workman Publishing division, building upon all that we’ve achieved at Workman and continuing the wonderful tradition of Peter Workman," said Reynolds. "I’ve been struck by Susan’s leadership, passion, and empathy, as well as her deep history with backlist publishing, which is the heart and soul of Workman. I’m looking forward to working closely with Susan to ensure the smoothest possible transition to her leadership.”
