Jake Morrissey, a former book editor, journalist and comics publisher, has been named executive editor of Riverhead Books, effective September 15. Morrissey's appointment fills a post that has been vacant since Amy Hertz, one of the founding editors of the imprint, left Riverhead in April to join Doubleday Broadway.
Morrissey will be responsible for acquiring nonfiction books in history, science and narrative nonfiction. Most recently, Morrissey was managing editor, comics, at United Media. He is credited with discovering Calvin & Hobbes, the acclaimed comic strip and bestselling book collections created by Bill Watterson, in a slush pile. Before joining United Media, Morrissey was executive editor at Harmony Books and has also been a senior editor at Scribner.
