HarperCollins has hired three people from outside the company to fill key spots in its management team. Joining HC are Michael Morrison, who had been senior v-p and publisher of the Random House Audio Publishing Group; Laurie Rippon, formerly director of sales at Hyperion; and Jeffrey Meltzer, who previously served as director of corporate and institutional sales at Barnes &Noble.
Morrison will join HC January 4 as senior v-p, associate publisher for the adult trade group. He will oversee trade and academic marketing as well as publicity. In addition, he will be responsible for HarperAudio. Rippon has already started at HC as senior v-p, creative and marketing services. In that role, she will direct advertising, promotion, online marketing, art and design for all HC adult trade imprints. Morrison and Rippon will both report to Cathy Hemming, executive v-p and publisher of the adult trade group.
Meltzer has joined the HC general book sales division as director of business operations. Meltzer, who reports to Therese Burke, president of general book sales, will oversee co-op advertising, forecasting and general business administration for all sales.
Commenting on the appointments, Hemming noted that as HC refines the adult group, "it is crucial that we strengthen our ability to support each title with innovative and strategic marketing initiatives."
