Rodale has named Giannia Crespi president of Rodale International. In the newly created spot, Crespi will oversee all of Rodale's operations outside of North America, putting him in charge of both international book and magazine operations. Rodale Books opened its first overseas office in London in fall 2002.
Crespi will operate from the London office as well as from a new office in Milan, his hometown. Before joining Rodale, Crespi was managing director of the Italian media group Instituto Geografico de Agostini and had been v-p for Walt Disney Italy. Rodale CEO Steve Murphy knew Crespi when both were at Disney, but Murphy said his appointment was the result of a worldwide search. Crespi will be charged with taking Rodale's domestic formula of partnering books and magazines into global markets.
Rodale's domestic operations have produced three titles that are on this week's PW bestseller lists, and the company has high hopes for The South Beach Diet Cookbook, which will have a one-day laydown on April 13 and a first printing of one million. Another book that Rodale has high hopes for this year is a new title from Larry King due out in July.
