Sales Up 8.6% At Lagardere
Worldwide sales at Lagardere Publishing rose 8.6% in 2007, to 2.13 billion euros ($2.77 billion), driven by a strong fourth quarter and an 80-million euro contribution from the former Time Warner Trade Book group, which the company acquired April 1, 2006. Excluding the contribution from what is now the Hachette Book Group USA, sales were up 4.7%. In the U.S., Lagardere said that “strong growth seen since the start of the year continued.”
Farley Replaces Holt's Sterling
Henry Holt president and publisher John Sterling is becoming an executive v-p for parent company Macmillan, and former Harcourt Trade head Dan Farley has been named to replace him on an interim basis. Sterling will become an editor-at-large and also direct a number of digital projects, reporting to Macmillan president Brian Napack.
S&S Creates Digital Spot
Reflecting the growing importance of digital publishing to traditional publishers, Simon & Schuster has created the position of chief digital officer and named Elinor Hirschhorn to fill the spot. Hirschhorn, who will start February 11, is joining S&S from College Sports Television Networks, where she was executive v-p, corporate development and strategy. She will report to S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy.
HC Results Up In Second Qtr.
After a bad first quarter, revenue rose 3.3% in the second quarter at HarperCollins, hitting $406 million. Operating income increased 24.1%, to $67 million. Profits in last year's second quarter included a write-down from the bankruptcy of AMS. The gains were driven by strong sales of The Daring Book for Girls, The Dangerous Books for Boys and Deceptively Delicious. Profits for the first half were down 5.5%, to $103 million, and sales were off 3.3%, to $736 million.
Hill Leaving Doubleday
Janet Hill, executive v-p of Doubleday Broadway and founder of the Harlem Moon imprint, is leaving the company at the end of the month. Doubleday has not decided whether it will continue the Harlem Moon imprint, which focuses on books by and about African-Americans. A spokesperson said all titles under contract will be published, and that Doubleday will continue to publish books for an African-American audience.
Ross Turns Agent
Bookselling veteran Andy Ross, who retired as president of Cody Books in December, has formed the Andy Ross Literary Agency. Based in Berkeley, Calif., the agency will specialize in general nonfiction, politics, history, biography, journalism and contemporary culture. Ross's e-mail is andyrossagency@hotmail.com.
Keen Buys Wilderness
Keen Communications, parent company of Menasha Ridge Press and Clerisy Press, has acquired Berkeley, Calif.—based Wilderness Press. Wilderness will remain in Berkeley with the same staff, and under the direction of associate publisher Roslyn Bullas.
'Breaking Dawn' Due August 2
Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final novel in Stephenie Meyer's hugely successful Twilight saga, will be released at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2.
