Jack Romanos, president of Simon &Schuster's consumer division since 1991, has been named president and chief operating officer of Simon &Schuster, following the sale of all S&S publishing units except the consumer division to Pearson.
Romanos will have operational responsibility for all of S&S's publishing businesses, which now includes trade and mass market publishing, children's books and online and new media publishing. In addition to overseeing the publishing operations, Romanos will be responsible for S&S's newly formed corporate staff (News, Sept. 28). He will report to Jonathan Newcomb, who remains chairman and CEO of Viacom's publishing division.
Newcomb told PW he will focus on the publishing division's strategic objectives, involving himself with such tasks as building the "next generation" infrastructure for the company and looking for links between S&S and other Viacom properties. "I think there is an opportunity to build on what we have in a rapidly changing industry," Newcomb said, noting that he would not rule out S&S making an acquisition or getting involved in a joint venture.
