Jim Chandler has been promoted to president and CEO of the Ingram Book Group, succeeding Michael Lovett, who is moving into a new role at Ingram Industries, parent company of Ingram Book Group. Chandler joined Ingram in 1997 and most recently served as chief commercial officer.
With little growth in trade publishing and more of the country's largest booksellers ordering books directly from publishers, all book wholesalers are facing an "increasingly challenging" environment, Chandler acknowledged. He said Ingram will make some modifications to its business model and said the new area he is most bullish on is fee-based distribution. Ingram formed a distribution unit in April and named former Borders executive Phil Ollila to head it. Chandler said he expects to announce the company's first few clients before the end of the year.
Chandler will drop his chief commercial officer title, although he will retain some of those functions. Peter Clifton, president of Ingram International, will take over Chandler's responsibility for Ingram Book Co., Spring Arbor and Tennessee Book Co., while continuing to head Ingram International and Ingram Library Services.
