Margaret Lennon to Succeed Deborah Balmuth at Storey Publishing

Storey Publishing’s associate publisher Margaret Lennon has been named to replace current publisher Deborah Balmuth when Balmuth retires at the end of September.

Lennon will officially step into the role of VP and publisher of Storey on September 30. She first joined Storey as gift sales manager in 2002, before being promoted to director of sales in 2011 and then associate publisher in 2017.

Balmuth joined Storey in 1993, 10 years after the North Adams, Mass.–based independent press was launched by John and Martha Storey. She became editorial director in 2003 and was promoted to publisher in 2013.

During Balmuth’s time at Storey, the publisher was sold to Workman Publishing, and then became part of Hachette Book Group following HBG’s acquisition of Workman. Susan Weinberg, HBG executive VP and publisher of Workman, commended Balmuth for her “spirited guidance and creative passion and her many qualities that make Storey a special destination for crafters, cooks, farmers, gardeners, healers, and a host of other readers who look for practical skills, well expressed and beautifully presented, in their books.”

In remarks, Balmuth said she is confident she is leaving Storey in good hands with Lennon. “Margaret is a wonderfully authentic advocate for Storey with her abilities to build strong working relationships across HBG and offer seasoned insight into Storey’s business model and what makes us tick, while also being open to new directions, processes, and opportunities. I’m so happy that Storey will be in such great hands,” said Balmuth.