People
Sourcebooks has hired Leigh Haber to the newly created role of vice president, executive director of communications and special projects as of September 1, reporting to CEO and publisher Dominique Raccah. Jacob Gong has joined as book designer, children’s. Becca Bright has joined as editor, nonfiction.
At Penguin Random House, Kelsea Allen joins as senior designer/prepress on the corporate bookmaking, PRH Christian design team, reporting to Linnea Knollmueller. She was previously at She Reads Truth. Michael Gentile, VP of education sales and marketing, is leaving Penguin Random House effective August 21.
Harper Collins Christian has Damon Reiss returning as SVP, group publisher of Christian trade publishing, reporting to president and CEO Mark Schoenwald. He was previously chief publishing officer at Tyndale. At Harper One, Julie Will joins as SVP, editor in chief on September 8, reporting to Diana Baroni. She was previously at Flatiron.
Columbia Global Reports has Angela Baggetta joining as publisher, effective September 8. She most recently ran Angela Baggetta Communications, a full-service literary publicity firm specializing in public relations campaigns for non-fiction books.
At Simon and Schuster, Atria director of backlist and special projects Suzanne Donahue retires on August 31. Edie Astley has joined as editor, acquiring fiction. She was previously associate editor at Harper Collins. Within Simon Element and Simon Acumen, Falon Kirby-Hewitt has joined as publicity director.
The Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group has Britt Mitchell joining as associate director of middle grade & graphic novel marketing. Previously she was on the marketing & publicity team at Chronicle.
At Hachette Book Group, Cara Rafferty joins as associate national account manager on the Online Sales Team. She was previously the frontlist buyer for children’s books ages 0–7 at Barnes & Noble.
The Stable Book Group has Stephen Twilliger joining as chief financial officer. He was previously finance director at Hachette Book Group. Hugo Villabona has joined as editorial director. He was previously chief content officer at Mango Publishing, and then helped to launch Key Lime Publishing. Morgan Amer has joined as sales director. She was previously sales director at Hachette Book Group.
Within Beacon Press, director of communications Pamela MacColl will retire at the end of August after 27 years at the company.
TvS Media Group brings on Terry Borzumato-Greenberg as vice president, school and library marketing. Most recently, she served as vice president at Holiday House.
At Scholastic, Elizabeth Lazowski has joined as an editor.
Figure 1 Publishing brings on Claudia Tavernese as an editor.
In Agency News…
The Trident Media Group has promoted Miles Temel to associate literary agent.
At PFD, John Baker and Sarah Moore have joined as agents. Baker was previously at Bell Lomax Moreton Agency and Moore was at Daniela Schlingmann Literary Scouting.
Kin & Co. Literary Scouting promotes Nia Sylva to scout.
At Park, Fine & Brower, Sophie Brett-Chin has joined as a literary agent. She was previously at Folio Literary Management.
Brent Taylor has launched a new agency, July First Literary. He was previously at Triada US. Literary assistant Sara Aldrich will move from Triada to July First, as will authors Rex Ogle, Rajani LaRocca, Aurora Ascher, Sayantani DasGupta, Jason June, Hannah Nicole Maehrer, K.M. Moronova, Will Taylor, Emily Krempholtz, and Kristen Vale.
Bindery has Michael Covington, formerly VP of publishing and acquisitions at David C Cook, joining as literary agent.
Promotions
Zando promotes Andrew Rein to president.
At Penguin Random House, Nicole Pedersen is promoted to assistant director of production editorial, corporate bookmaking. Emma Tamayo and Brittney West have been promoted to assistant managing editor. Random House Children’s promotes Jillian Vandall to executive director, publicity, brand and licensed publishing, Maria Vitale to marketing associate, Young Readers, and Gabriella Murdoch to marketing associate, young adult. Josh Redlich has been promoted to director, publicity and media strategy, Kristopher Kam to director, publicity and event strategy, and Madison Furr to senior publicity manager, brand & licensed publishing. Sarah Lawrenson has been promoted to publicist. Elena Meuse has been promoted to assistant director, communications and audience insights. Jordan Bishop has been promoted to associate manager, influencer and consumer shows strategy. Bella Bledzki has been promoted to social media associate. Liz Dresner has been promoted to senior art director and Katrina Damkoehler to art director. Jade Rector has been promoted to senior designer and Megan Shortt to designer. Penguin Press promotes Christine Johnston to senior publicity manager. Berkley promotes Kaila Mundell-Hill to associate publicist. Within Dutton, Cassidy Sachs has been promoted to executive editor.
At Hachette Book Group, Jayme Boucher has been promoted to vice president, director of Hachette Speakers Bureau & Consumer Events, an expanded role in which she will oversee consumer-facing events. Kenzie Sena has been promoted to assistant manager, marketing technology and operations. Hachette Audio promotes Laura Essex to director, audiobook production and Tom Messina to director, audiobook post-production. Both will report to president, publisher Ana Maria Allessi. Jen Patten and Elece Green are promoted to senior producer, reporting to Essex, and Allison Lane is promoted to audio editor.
Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group promotes Sarah McClain to assistant managing editor.
Promotions at Sourcebooks include Nia Saxon to assistant editor, Poisoned Pen Press, Drew French to manager of data engineering & analytics, and Jenny Granath to buyer II, manufacturing.
Harper Collins Children’s promotes Erika DiPasquale to senior editor. Jenna Stempel-Lobell and David Curtis have been promoted to art director and Jon Corby has been promoted to designer.
At Norton, Zeba Arora is promoted to associate editor.
Levine Querido promotes Nick Thomas to associate publisher.
Ten Speed Press promotes Zoey Brandt to associate editor.
Duly Noted
The Book Industry Study Group names Kris Kliemann as their 2026 recipient of the BISG Industry Champion Award. Kliemann will be recognized at the Book Publishing Next Forum & Anniversary Celebration, at The New York Historical, Wednesday, September 16th. Read more about it here.