People
At Penguin Random House Audio, Chris Werner has joined in the newly created role of VP, content development. He previously was publisher at Amazon Publishing, where he was “head of nine-figure audiobook publishing business”.
Hachette Book Group has named Ann Dye to the new role of vice president, business operations and Dan Levy has been named senior vice president, chief data officer, reporting to chief information officer Brendan Goss. Matt Klise joins as business operations manager.
Springer Nature has Patric Somlo joining as chief financial officer on November 1st. He is currently senior vice president corporate finance at Lonza Group AG.
At Rise Literary, Diana Ventimiglia has joined as publisher. She was previously executive editor at Hachette Book Group imprint, Balance.
At Hanover Square Press, Ryan Amato has joined as associate editor. He was previously at HarperOne.
Doubleday and Pantheon have Abigail Walton joining as associate publicist. She was previously at HarperCollins.
At Zando, Jaden Urso joins as marketing coordinator and Allyson Rychlak joins as digital marketing manager.
Simon and Schuster has Rylee Mahnesmith and Sebastian Ospina joining the special markets team as sales coordinators. Ploy Siripant joins as art director. They were previously senior art director at Harper Collins. Within Gallery Books, Fabiola Chinea joins as a marketing assistant.
In Agency News…
The Bright Agency has promoted Alex Gehringer to head of illustration in America and Emily Fernandez to agent.
At Rocked Inked, Linda A. Duggins joins as agent. Duggins was previously senior director of publicity at Grand Central.
Storm Literary Agency promotes Michelle Hauck to senior literary agent.
Lena Stjernström and Peter Stjernström have sold the Grand Agency to Elisabet Brännström, effective from 1 September 2026. Peter Stjernström steps down as chief financial officer and leaves the company to pursue other interests. He will continue to support the agency as an independent adviser. Brännström becomes the managing director.
At The Rights Factory, Krista White joins as assistant agent and Nikki Carrero has been promoted to associate agent.
Starling Literary + Media has Taj McCoy joining as literary agent, building a list in adult and children’s literature. She was previously an agent at the Laura Dail Literary Agency.
TridaUS Literary Agency promotes Laura Crockett to vice president and executive literary agent. She will continue her role as foreign rights manager as well.
Lindhardt & Ringhof has appointed Maria B. Campbell Associates as its literary scout for US, UK, and international.
Intercontinental Literary Agency has acquired The Marsh Agency, with managing director Camilla Ferrier and the rest of its staff joining ILA.
Laura Dail Literary Agency promotes Katie Gisondi to director of subsidiary rights.
At Lexington Literary Agency, Caroline Dawnay will join as literary agent. She was previously at United Agents and is bringing her roster with her.
Looking Glass Literary and Media has Dorian Maffei joining as agent. She was previously at Kimberley Cameron & Associates.
At July First Literary, Kelsey Evans is joining as a literary agent. She was previously at Rosecliff Literary.
Belcastro Agency promotes Sarah Fox to junior agent.
At Bookends Literary Agency, Sarah Butler has been promoted to royalties manager and Maggie Nambot has been promoted to accounts payable specialist.
Fuse Literary has Vicky Weber joining the agency. She was previously at Creative Media Agency.
At Spencerhill Associates, Andi Twaddle has joined as an associate agent, representing adult genre fiction, picture book fiction, and children’s graphic novels.
Spielberg Literary Agency has Lee Melillo and Ryan Nuzzo joining as associate literary agents. Melillo was previously at Dunham Literary, and Nuzzo was previously at Tantor Media. Olivia Greenan has been promoted to associate literary agent.
Michael Barra has been promoted to CEO at International Literary Properties. He was previously CEO of ILP Theatrical & Global Management.
Promotions
Hachette Book Group has promoted Dan Levy to SVP & chief data officer with responsibility across HBG USA, Hachette UK and its subsidiaries. Kate Meng is promoted to senior manager, corporate strategy. Little Brown Children’s promotes Kelly Moran to senior publicity manager.
At Simon and Schuster, Carina Guiterman has been promoted to vice president and editorial director of fiction.
Bloomsbury promotes Katie Vaughn to senior marketing manager, Olivia Treynor to assistant marketing manager, and Emelyn Ehrlich to sales coordinator. Kathleen O’Neill has been promoted to metadata manager. Kenli Manning has been promoted to associate editor for Bloomsbury Archer. Within Bloomsbury Children’s, Mary Kate Castellani has been promoted to Vice President, Publishing Director for Children’s, from Publishing Director. Mary Kate has been with Bloomsbury for over 20 years, having started at the company as an editorial assistant.
Penguin Random House Audio promotes Iris McElroy to executive producer and manager, Jorge Reyes to executive producer, and Juan Garcia Ticoulat and Olivia Langen to producers. At Berkeley, Stephanie Felty is promoted to senior publicist. Avery and Tarcher promotes Elisabeth Koyfman to assistant editor. Hogarth promotes Cassie Vu to associate art director.
Sourcebooks promotes Cara Nesi to associate sales director – inside sales. Gabbi Calabrese has been promoted to associate editor, Sourcebooks Fire and Young Readers. Kirsten Clawson has been promoted to senior manager, managing editorial, adult. BrocheAroe Fabian has been promoted associate marketing director – indies.
Chronicle has Keely Thomas-Menter promoted to senior publicist and Olivia Guimarães promoted to assistant editor.
Zando promotes Stefanie Chow to associate marketing manager.
The American Booksellers Association promotes Finn Butterfield to associate manager, free expression & advocacy.
Knopf Double Day Publishing Group promotes Ellen Whitaker to senior manager, marketing. Christopher Metts is promoted to manager, marketing and social media strategy. Sarah Malik is promoted to associate, marketing and Kirsten Eggart is promoted to assistant managing editor, corporate bookmaking.
At Inner Traditions, Mahar Asher Sperling has been promoted to vp, associate publisher, taking over from his father, founder and publisher Ehud C. Sperling.
Duly Noted
At the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), Wiley received the organization’s inaugural Founders Award. “Wiley is deeply honored to be named the inaugural recipient of the BISG Founders Award,” said Amanda Miller, Group Vice President, Wiley Books. “Being part of BISG since its founding has given us a front-row seat to the significant impact this organization has on our industry, from the standards it sets to the collaboration it makes possible across every part of the supply chain. We’re extremely grateful for that work, and we’re committed to continuing to support BISG and its mission in the years ahead.”
The NYU Advanced Publishing Institute (NYU API) will run its fourth program January 6-7, 2027. They state “NYU API is a course, not a conference. The 2027 program will continue its focus on innovation, leadership, and growth strategies, with special emphasis on four pillars driving publishing today: Innovation, Audience, AI, and Analytics.” Keynote speakers announced include Greg Greeley, Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Schuster, in conversation with Ed Nawotka, Senior News and International Editor at Publishers Weekly; Danny Meyer, restaurateur, business leader, and New York Times bestselling author, alongside his editor, Andy Ward, Executive Vice President and Publisher at Random House, Penguin Random House; and Sanyu Dillon, President of the Random House Publishing Group, Penguin Random House. Find more information here.
The National Book Foundation announced that pediatrician, writer, and longtime National Medical Director of Reach Out and Read Perri Klass will receive the 2026 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community. Salman Rushdie will receive the NBF’s 2026 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, which will be presented at the National Book Awards Ceremony on November 18 by author Kiran Desai.
The London Book Fair has announced that the Children’s Media Conference will be held during LBF on March 16th and 17th, 2026. They report “Responding to a rapidly changing market and expanding its international reach, CMC’s new position in the industry calendar and London location will create fresh opportunities for collaboration, networking and business development across complementary sectors.”