With the deal now done, the new executive team of Penguin Random House can begin the process of building a 21st-century publishing company, CEO Markus Dohle told PW in an interview last week from London, where he was on the first leg of a tour to visit the various global offices of PRH. In the short term the priorities for the new company are to deliver “fantastic titles for the fall and holiday season, and to keep innovating,” while a small team will begin the integration of Random House and Penguin, Dohle said. He stressed that given the strong recent performances of both companies, PRH has the ability to move forward “in a thoughtful way.”
While Dohle said he knows there is lots of work to be done, he is confident PRH has the right assets to deliver benefits to authors and readers across the globe. “Continuity will outweigh change,” Dohle said, although he acknowledged that as PRH develops the new company, change will come. The first order of business is getting the publishing house on the same systems and processes, an effort that will begin with separating the old Penguin from Pearson.
Joining Dohle—who is now CEO of Penguin Random House worldwide, as well as CEO of Penguin Random House in the U.S.—in creating the new combined entity is a varied team of newly appointed executives.
John Makinson, formerly Penguin Group chairman, has been named chairman of Penguin Random House.
Coram Williams, formerly CFO of the Penguin Group, will now serve in a dual role as chief financial officer for Penguin Random House in the U.S. and worldwide, and will oversee Random House Studio, the film and TV studio; corporate services; and Penguin Random House’s self-publishing service, Author Solutions.
David Shanks, former CEO of Penguin Group USA, who had already planned to retire at the end of 2013, has stepped down and will now serve as senior executive adviser to Dohle and to the U.S. executive team.
Madeline McIntosh, former COO of Random House U.S., has been appointed president and COO of Penguin Random House U.S., overseeing sales, operations, fulfillment, IT, and digital operations companywide.
Kathy Trager has been named executive v-p and general counsel of Penguin Random House U.S.
Brad Martin, formerly president and CEO of Random House of Canada, is now CEO of Penguin Random House in Canada.
In the U.K., Gail Rebuck has been appointed chair of the Penguin Random House U.K. board and to the Global Penguin Random House board, and she will continue as a member of the Bertelsmann Group Management Committee.
Also in the U.K., Tom Weldon, previously CEO at the Penguin Group U.K., is now CEO for Penguin Random House in the U.K.
Ian Hudson has been named deputy CEO of Penguin Random House U.K., a position he held previously at Random House U.K. In addition, Hudson will also serve as CEO of Penguin Random House International (English-language), overseeing Penguin Random House operations in Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and Asia.
Gabrielle Coyne, previously CEO of Penguin Group Asia Pacific, has been appointed CEO of Penguin Random House Asia Pacific, and Gaurav Shrinagesh, previously managing director of Random House India, has been named CEO of Penguin Random House India. Both will report to Ian Hudson.
In addition, Nuría Cabutí has been named CEO of the PRH operations in Spain and Latin America, where the company will continue to operate under the name Random House Mondadori. And John Duhigg, CEO of Dorling Kindersley, will be responsible for Dorling Kindersley business worldwide.
Also appointed with global and U.S. responsibilities at Penguin Random House are Frank Steinert, chief human resources officer; Stuart Applebaum, communications; and Milena Alberti, corporate development.