Gina Centrello, who was named publisher of Pocket Books in 1993 and added the title of president a year later, resigned from the company effective January 8. Centrello told PW that after 16 years with Pocket, she "felt like it was the right time to take some time off to see what I want to do next." Although she said she had no specific job in mind, Centrello indicated that she expects to stay in the publishing industry.
Simon &Schuster president Jack Romanos, who had promoted Centrello through the Pocket ranks, thanked Centrello for her accomplishments. During her tenure, Centrello helped Pocket diversify from a traditional paperback publisher to a vertically integrated publisher of works in different formats. In 1998, Pocket had 14 titles on PW's mass market bestseller list, three hardcover bestsellers and one in trade paperback. Pocket said a search has begun within and without the company for Centrello's successor.
