Harper Purchase of Morrow/Avon Completed
-- Publishers Weekly, 7/19/1999
HarperCollins made a flurry of announcements last week, topped by the news that it had completed its purchase of the Hearst Corporation's trade book operation. Harper's parent company, News Corp., announced in late June that it had reached an agreement to acquire Morrow and Avon (News, June 21).Although a spokesperson for Harper said it was premature to discuss details about the consolidation of the former Hearst book units, a couple of personnel announcements were made. William Wright, who had headed the Hearst Book unit, will remain with Hearst, while Gregory Giangrande, director of human resources for the Hearst Book Group, has been appointed senior v-p, human resources for HarperCollins. New Large Print, Ad Units
Meanwhile, Harper announced internal moves involved in the launch of a new large-print operation as well as the formation of an in-house advertising agency. Harper Large Print Editions will be headed by Michael Morrison, v-p and associate publisher of the adult trade group. The program will be launched this fall with 15 trade paperbacks, comprised of nine traditional and six classic titles (such as A Tale of Two Cities). Harper expects to follow the same publishing schedule for large print in its winter and spring lists. Morrison had overseen Random House's large-print operation before joining Harper, as had Harper president Jane Friedman.
The new in-house advertising agency is being launched immediately; it will phase in print advertising project by project over the next few months and eventually will handle broadcast advertising for the adult imprints. Tracey Menzies, who had been marketing director at Hyperion, has been named director of the new unit. She will report to Laurie Rippon, senior v-p, creative and marketing services at Harper. Rippon, who previously headed an advertising department at Viking Penguin, told PW that bringing advertising in-house will result in "tremendous costs savings as well as better creative control" over the company's marketing campaigns.
The marketing and creative department also announced a number of promotions last week, including that of Sherri Rifkin from associate director to director of online marketing. Rippon said the promotion reflects Harper's expanding efforts in that area and that Rifkin will be adding staff to the unit.
