HarperCollins has realigned its general books group to create what division president and publisher Cathy Hemming calls "smaller, more accountable teams." And as part of restructuring its trade paperbacks operation, the company announced a new imprint.
Susan Weinberg, formerly senior v-p and editorial director of the HarperCollins, Perennial and Quill imprints, has been named to the newly created post of publisher of the HC imprint. Weinberg's appointment "solidifies" her role as the head of the flagship imprint, Hemming told PW. In addition to managing HC's editorial program Weinberg will now be responsible for marketing and publicity as well. The promotion "gives Susan a more defined role and the accountability and authority" to run the HC imprint, Hemming said.
Carie Freimuth, who had handled some of the marketing functions for HC, has been named senior v-p, publishing director for the ReganBooks imprint, reporting to Judith Regan. Freimuth will also serve as group publishing director of the general books group. In that role she will oversee the Amistad, Harper Audio, Harper Large Print and Rayo imprints, reporting to Hemming.
Hemming has also shuffled the structure of HC's trade paperback operations. Weinberg and Michael Morrison, the executive v-p of general books and publisher of Morrow Avon, will now oversee all trade paperback operations as co-publishers. The two will be responsible for Perennial, Quill and the trade paperbacks published under the Ecco, Fourth Estate, Avon Trade paperbacks, Eos and Harper Entertainment imprints.
A new trade paperback imprint, Dark Alley, will also fall under Weinberg and Morrison's control. Dark Alley is described as a "line of suspense books," and HC plans to release six to 10 titles per year, with the list divided between original works and reprints. David Roth-Ey is the editorial director of Dark Alley as well as of Perennial and Quill, reporting to Morrison and Weinberg. Hemming said it will be up to Weinberg and Morrison to decide if HC will publish more or fewer trade paperbacks in upcoming years, adding that the goal of restructuring the trade paperback operations is to create "a powerful, well-integrated program."
Other promotions in the general books group include naming Carrie Kania v-p, associate publisher of Harper Trade. She will oversee the marketing, publicity and publishing operations for the HC, Perennial, Quill, Ecco and Fourth Estate imprints. Jean Marie Kelly has been named group marketing director for Harper Audio and Harper Large Print.
In a separate personnel move, Ardy Khazaei was named senior v-p of HC's electronic media operations, succeeding Christopher North, who moved to HC Canada last month.
