Crown Restructuring Completed

-- Publishers Weekly, 1/14/2009 8:35:00 AM

The reorganization of the Crown Publishing Group includes the addition of three top executives to Jenny Frost’s management team. Newly reporting to Frost are Michael Palgon, named executive v-p, deputy publisher, Crown Publishing Group; Palgon held a similar title at Doubleday Broadway; Stacey Creamer, v-p executive editor and deputy editorial director at Doubleday Broadway has been named v-p, editor-in-chief, Broadway; and David Drake, who had been director of publicity for Broadway, has been named v-p, executive director, publicity, Broadway. Drake will also be responsible for publicity for Fodor’s Travel and the Random House Information Group, while serving as spokesperson for all of Crown.

Palgon will continues to oversee Doubleday Business, which is being renamed Broadway Business. He also will retain oversight of the operations of Doubleday Religion and Colorado Springs-based Waterbrook Multnomah.

Drake said a "small number" of jobs were eliminated across different functions in the reorganization. That is in addition to the 16 jobs that were cut in early December, plus another round of cuts that followed just before the end of the year. Drake said no more cuts are planned "at this time." He said today's announcement was intended to show how the new Crown divisions have been integrated in the existing group.

Below is the letter from Frost.

January 14, 2009

TO EVERYONE AT THE CROWN PUBLISHING GROUP

With the addition of Broadway Books, Doubleday Business, Doubleday Religion, and Waterbrook Multnomah, the singularly broad scope of the Crown Publishing Group has been enriched and expanded. The new imprints joining our group each have their own distinct publishing identities and will continue to function with their own editorial, marketing, and publicity staffs. While maintaining their unique character and editorial vision, these imprints will complement the core strengths of our existing program, which is without peer in the diversity ofits editorial offerings and formats.With this expansion of our publishing operations and the integration of a new set of talents and skills to our leadership team, I am announcing several changes to the organizational and reporting structure of our group,effective immediately.

Newly reporting to me are MICHAEL PALGON, named Executive Vice President, Deputy Publisher, Crown Publishing Group; STACY CREAMER, Vice President, Editor-in-Chief, Broadway; and DAVID DRAKE, Vce President, Executive Director, Publicity, Broadway.

Michael continues to oversee Doubleday Business, which is being renamed Broadway Business. Executive Editor ROGER SCHOLL continues to report to him. Michael also will retain oversight of the operations of Doubleday Religion and Colorado Springs-based Waterbrook Multnomah. TRACE MURPHY, Editor-in- Chief, Associate Publisher, Doubleday Religion, and STEVE COBB, President & Publisher, Waterbrook Multnomah, continue to report to him.

Newly reporting to Michael are LINDA KAPLAN, Director, Subsidiary Rights; AMY BOORSTEIN, Vice President, Managing Editor; STAN REDFERN, Vice President, Director of Production; WHITNEY COOKMAN, Senior Vice President, Creative Director; and FABRIZIO LaROCCA, Vice President, Creative Director, Random House Information Group, Random House Audio Publishing Group, and Fodor’s Travel.

In continuing as Senior Vice President, Publishing Operations, Crown Publishing Group, PETE MULLER retains financial responsibility for the group and will continue to be integrally involved in formulating and implementing the publishing strategies and operations of all imprints within our group, reporting to me.

Newly reporting to Pete will be KEVIN TOBIN, named Vice President, Director, Business Operations, Broadway, Broadway Business, Doubleday Religion, and Waterbrook Multnomah.

Continuing to report to Pete are SUSAN LIVINGSTON, Director, Business Operations, Random House Audio, Listening Library, Books on Tape, Large Print, and Prima; DAN FIGENSHU, Director, Business Operations, Crown, Crown Business, Crown Forum, Clarkson Potter, Potter Style, Potter Craft, Watson-Guptill, Shaye Areheart Books, Harmony, and Three Rivers Press; and DANA CITARELLA, Business Manager, Fodor’s Travel, Random House Information Group, and Direct Marketing.

David Drake will take on the additional responsibility of directing publicity for Fodor’s Travel and the Random House Information Group. He will also serve as spokesperson for the Crown Publishing Group.

KATIE WAINWRIGHT, Vice President, Executive Director of Publicity, continues to oversee publicity for Crown, Crown Business, Crown Forum, Clarkson Potter, Potter Style, Potter Craft, Watson-Guptill, Shaye Areheart Books, Harmony, and Three Rivers Press, reporting to me.

Also continuing to report to me are LAUREN SHAKELY, Senior Vice President, Publisher, Clarkson Potter, Potter Craft, Potter Style, and Watson-Guptill; TINA CONSTABLE, Vice President, Publisher, Crown, Crown Business, and Crown Forum; SHAYE AREHEART, Vice President, Publisher, Harmony and Shaye Areheart Books; TOM RUSSELL, Vice President, Publisher, Random House Information Group; DEBRA KEMPKER, President, Prima Games; AMANDA D’ACIERNO, Vice President, Publisher, Random House Audio and Listening Library; TIM JARRELL, Vice President, Publisher, Fodor’s Travel; ROBERT MANGER, Director, Online Sales and Marketing; and BRIAN GUREWITZ, President, Library Sales. Newly reporting to Amanda D’Acierno is CHERYL HERMAN, Marketing Director, Books on Tape. PHILIP PATRICK continues as Vice President, Publisher, Three Rivers Press, eBooks, and Digital Content, Director, Marketing, the Crown Publishing Group, reporting to me.

Newly reporting to Philip are CANDICE CHAPLIN, Director, Marketing, Random House Information Group and Fodor’s Travel, and CATHERINE POLLOCK, Vice President, Director, Marketing, Broadway. In addition to her Broadway duties, Catherine will assume responsibility for oversight of Broadway Business marketing. With the addition of a wealth of new authors and titles to our publishing program and many talented new members to our team, our group is well positioned to enhance our creativity, efficiency, and effectiveness in the year ahead and beyond. Please join me in welcoming our new colleagues to the Crown Publishing Group.