Penguin has realigned its international sales team, putting a major emphasis on Spanish-language territories. A new international sales team now reports to Barbara O’Shea, president of non-trade sales, and includes special markets. The company has hired Carlos Azula as v-p, international sales, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, reflecting its increased focus in those areas.
Azula's newly created position will have him initially concentrating on selling Penguin Group and DK titles from the U.S. and from Penguin UK, where rights are available. Azula's team will sell Spanish-language, English-language, and bilingual books in a variety of subject areas to English-speaking, Spanish-speaking and bilingual communities in the U.S. and abroad. In addition, Azula will work with other Penguin Group divisions around the world where additional books, both English and Spanish, may be sold. Azula will also be purchasing Spanish-language titles from a variety of origins for resale in the U.S. He will be based in Palatkis, Fla., start July 1, and report to O’Shea. Azula was most recently v-p, division of foreign language sales at Random House.
Penguin Group (USA) has also hired Erik Riesenberg as director of international sales, Latin America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Riesenberg will handle sales and acquisitions, and will also be responsible for all marketing and publicity for the new division. He also previously worked at Random, where he was national accounts manager. He will work in New York and begin July 19.
Other territories within International Sales at Penguin Group (USA) will continue to report to Valentina Rice, v-p of international sales, who will now report to O’Shea.
Penguin currently sells some Spanish-language titles in the U.S., but the list is not large. Penguin adopted a new global management approach late last year; Penguin USA CEO David Shanks was put in charge of Central and South America.
