Just weeks after he left the house he ran for nearly two decades, Colin Robinson joined the New Press as its publisher. The former head of Verso's U.S. office will concentrate on title acquisition and marketing, two areas for which he's known. In conjunction with the hire, Diane Wachtell has been tapped as the New Press's executive director. André Schiffrin will remain the house's director.
The addition of Robinson is meant to deliver a jazzier element to the New Press. While Robinson said he hasn't spoken explicitly to his writers, who include contrarian Christopher Hitchens and urbanist Mike Davis, about switching houses, he did say that "they'll choose where they want to work." While at Verso, Robinson notched many unlikely successes, including a slick reissue of The Communist Manifesto.
Wachtell said the New Press has been courting Robinson for about a year. "We've been plying him with offers. It's not like we swooped in last month." Robinson and his retail dexterity couldn't come at a better time, though, as the philanthropy sector on which the house relies for much of its support faces its most troubling period in years.
Robinson left Verso last month after a dispute with the London-based company's board of directors, who wanted him to return to the U.K. and thought he should take the press in a more academic direction. Where his departure leaves Verso is an open question. For the moment, publicity director Niels Hooper will run the New York office and handle most marketing responsibilities; house author Tariq Ali will handle the lion's share of editorial tasks. One source at the house said, "In no way will it become a U.K. import. We'll still acquire U.S. titles and have an active U.S. effort," adding that the house will continue to publish a variety of trade titles.
Of the new Verso, Robinson said, "It's a fantastic institution and I wouldn't underestimate the people who are still there. But I had a hope that I could make it big enough and influential enough in the industry as a whole. Obviously I have some doubt now about whether Verso could become that."
Since launching New Press a decade ago, Schiffrin has been adept at raising money as well as tapping the education market, but his trade sales haven't always measured up to, say, Verso or Seven Stories.
Robinson thinks his experience will match up well against the challenges he'll face at the New Press. "I've spent the last 15 years marketing Marx," he says. "Selling Studs Terkel should be a breeze."
