Citing a disappointing financial performance, Herve de la Martiniere, chairman of Harry Abrams parent company La Martiniere Group, implemented a wide-ranging reorganization of the art book publisher last week. Approximately 25 positions are being eliminated, and among those leaving the company are publisher Mark Magowan and Alan Rutsky, v-p and chief operating officer. Paul Gottlieb, former president and publisher of Abrams, will continue in his role as vice-chairman for the Martiniere Group.
Magowan, who worked for more than 20 years at Abbeville, joined Abrams in 2000 and succeeded Gottlieb as publisher. Although Martiniere acknowledged that the U.S. economy is in a difficult time, he said Abrams "has not meet its financial goals. I hope the restructuring will help the company recover quickly."
Martiniere said a new CEO will be named in about three months. In the interim, the heads of Abrams's various departments will manage the company's operations. Martiniere declined to discuss possible cuts in the Abrams list, but told PW he hoped the changes would spark "new creativity" at Abrams.
