PW: Davies to Retire from BDD

Among the accomplishments of Davies's career are the international launch of the instant paperback The Warren Commission Report; Bantam's first appearance at the Frankfurt Book Fair; the founding of Canada's Seal imprint; the inauguration of the Bantam U.K. paperback line and, later, the U.K. Bantam Press hardcover imprint; and the establishment of the first U.S.-owned new Australian and New Zealand trade publishers.

Davies told PW that BDD's offer to him to remain as an ambassador-at-large for the company, combined with the rigors of travel, convinced him the time was right to retire. Davies said he is especially looking forward to working with the Association of American Publishers on the issue of global retailing, and may also do some teaching. Davies said he is most proud of the international staff that he has built at BDD, as well as the number of people that have left his division to run units at other houses.