Citing a need to have its audio division "closer to the publishers here in New York," Holtzbrinck Publishers will move Audio Renaissance to New York City from its current Los Angeles location. Audio Renaissance produces approximately 75 audiobooks per year for Holtzbrinck trade publishers including Farrar, Straus & Giroux, St. Martin's Press and Henry Holt, as well as its own titles. Holtzbrinck acquired Renaissance Audio from Renaissance Media Inc. in November 2001.
The Los Angeles Audio Renaissance office, which has seven people, will close its doors at the end of November and at this time no members of the Los Angeles staff are expected to make the move to New York. Alison Lazarus, who is president of the sales division at Holtzbrinck and oversees Audio Renaissance operations, said plans for the coming months include hiring a New York—based staff that will work closely with the Los Angeles office during the transition period. Associate publisher and director of acquisitions Joe McNeely, who has been based in New York, will continue in his role.
