In an unexpected move, IDG Books president and publisher Steve Berkowitz resigned from the company at the end of November. Berkowitz joined IDG Books in 1994, following the company's purchase of MIS Press and M&T Books from Henry Holt, where he served as publisher of the two imprints.
Berkowitz's departure follows a watershed year for the company that included not only record sales and earnings but the acquisition of Macmillan's general reference group. John Kilcullen, IDG Books chairman and CEO, praised Berkowitz for "assembling a first-class senior executive team" that will take the publisher "to the next level of success in the growing how-to book and online markets in the U.S. and around the world." Kilcullen, along with IDG Books executive v-p John Ball, will oversee the company's operations until a successor is named.
