Weisbach Joins S&S

Rob Weisbach, the former Morrow wunderkind who has been uncharacteristically quiet since he left the house more than two years ago, has landed at Simon & Schuster, where he'll serve as vice-president and editor-at-large for the S&S adult trade imprint. Weisbach, who starts today, reports to David Rosenthal, executive v-p and publisher of the adult trade imprint.

Weisbach, who as head of an eponymous imprint at Morrow signed authors as varied as Whoopi Goldberg, A.M. Homes, Brad Melzer and Paul Reiser, will work on a number of "cross-platform" projects with other Viacom companies, in addition to bringing on new authors. "The term 'synergy' has gotten a dirty reputation in some circles, but for the right personalities, it makes a lot of sense to develop reciprocal relationships," Weisbach said. He added, "I don't want agents to send or not send proposals to me because they're thinking about how it will work as a film. A project has to work in its own medium first."

For S&S, the appointment underscores its desire to work even closer with parent company Viacom. When S&S was brought closer to the Viacom fold in January (News, Feb. 4), some observers viewed it as part of a plan to make Viacom's parts work better together. And earlier this year, S&S bought publishing rights for the Worldwide Wrestling Federation, for which Viacom already held broadcasting rights.

Since he left Morrow after the acquisition by HarperCollins, Weisbach has been contemplating a variety of projects, including a few involving books and TV. In the last year, he also worked with independent investors on a "multiplatform" business that stagnated after September 11. Weisbach said the S&S position offers the best of all possible worlds. "It was the right combination of freedom and muscle," he said. "It's really the most independence you can have and still work for a corporation."