Barron's Names Sibley Publisher

Ellen Sibley, previously executive vice-president, has been promoted to president and publisher of Barron's Educational Series.

Barron's is a 60-year-old, privately held publishing firm founded by Manuel H. Barron, who continues as its chairman and CEO. The company and its warehouse are based in Hauppauge, Long Island. Steve Matteo, manager of publicity at Barron's, said the house is best known for publishing test preparation guides to everything from the New York State Regents exams to GED tests, as well as prep books for a wide variety of educational and professional certification tests.

Matteo declined to give exact figures on annual revenues, but said the house is growing rapidly. He told PW that over the last five years, Barron's has been "moving into many new subject areas. We're known for our test prep, but we now publish books in just about every area except genre fiction and current events." Barron's publishes 300 books a year and the number is increasing. The house has added titles in the areas of art, photography and illustrated books, sports, gardening, history, reference works, juvenile books and titles aimed at the New Age market.

Matteo credited Sibley, who started in the Barron's accounting department and has been with the firm for 25 years, with being "instrumental in diversifying Barron's publishing program." Barron's has about 100 employees in addition to an international sales force.