Fine Named Direct Brands CEO
Deborah Fine has been named president and CEO of Direct Brands, succeeding Stuart Goldfarb, who had been leading the direct marketer since it was formed in July 2008 when Najafi Companies bought Bookspan and Columbia House from Bertelsmann. Direct Brands has 6.5 million members.
Maple Press to Shut Plant
The York, Pa.-basedbook manufacturer Maple Press willclose its Vail-Ballou Press plant, in Binghamton, N.Y., within 90 days. Maple Press president James Wisotzkey said the recession and trends in the industry forced the company to consolidate. Closing the Vail-Ballou Press, which will eliminate 270 jobs, will bring all manufacturing to the York plant; Maple will continue to operate distribution facilities in Lebanon and Mount Joy, Pa.
B&N Completes College Deal
Barnes & Noble Inc. has completed its $514 million acquisition of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers in a deal that also includes the rights to the B&N trade name that has been owned by B&N College. The purchase was first announced in August and will create a $7 billion business.
Sony in Two Pacts
Sony has signed deals with Smashwords and Authors Solutions that will permit e-books published or distributed by the two companies to be sold through the Sony eBook Store once its conversion to the EPub standard is completed.
New HC Digital Chief
HarperCollins has appointed Charlie Redmayne to the newly created position of executive v-p, chief digital officer. Redmayne will be responsible for coordinating all digital initiatives aimed at the consumer across all HarperCollins divisions. The New York and London digital groups at HC will report directly to Redmayne, who reports to Brian Murray, HC president and CEO.
'Symbol’ to Press for One Million in Spanish
Perseus Distribution is handling sales as well as fulfillment for Grupo Planeta’s El Simbolo Perdido. the Spanish-language edition of Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol. Planeta is doing a worldwide printing of one million copies—at $24.95 for the trade paperback—with an on-sale date of November 24. Perseus said the chains and big box stores have placed “big commitments.”
Cabuti to Head RH/Mondadori
Nuria Cabuti, publisher and editorial director of the Random House Mondadori Children’s and Paperback divisions, has been promoted to CEO of Random House Mondadori, the Spanish-language trade publishing joint venture. The appointment is effective January 1, when she will succeed Riccardo Cavallero, who announced earlier this year he will step down from this position to join Mondadori as general manager of its trade book division.
