John G. Keller, v-p and publisher of children's books for Little, Brown, will retire next July after 36 years with LB. He will be succeeded by G.J. (David) Ford, formerly president and CEO of Candlewick Press. Ford will join the company on November 8 as v-p and publisher, children's books, at which time he will be responsible for all aspects of the children's group. Keller will act as senior adviser to the group until his retirement.
During his tenure at Little, Brown, Keller worked with authors and illustrators such as Ed Emberley, Marc Brown, Trina Schart Hyman, Matt Christopher, Holly Hobbie and David McPhail. Among his many successes were two National Book Award winners, Bert Breen's Barn and Oh, Boy, Babies; the Newbery Award—winning Maniac Magee; and the acquisition of The Jolly Postman and Where's Waldo?
Ford has held senior positions in children's publishing for over 20 years. For 10 years he was with Walker Books, where he established the company's U.S. subsidiary Candlewick Press. After leaving Candlewick in 1993, Ford returned to his native Georgia to open the G.J. Ford Bookshop on St. Simons Island.
