Rizzoli Names New U.S. Chief
by Staff -- Publishers Weekly, 7/29/2002
RCS Libri, the Milan, Italy–based parent company of Rizzoli International, has appointed Marco Ausenda executive v-p of its U.S. operations. Ausenda succeeds Antonio Polito, who has been with Rizzoli for nearly 30 years.
The change in leadership is the final move in the ongoing restructuring of Rizzoli that began early last year with its decision to close all bookstores except its New York flagship, and continued into the winter, when it downsized its publishing division, a process that eliminated eight of the company's 47 positions (News, Dec. 3, 2001). Polito will remain with Rizzoli to supervise the closing of its retail operations and to oversee its remaining New York store.
Ausenda, a U.S. citizen, most recently served as CEO of Touring Editore, an Italian publisher of guidebooks, cartographic books and illustrated travel books. Both Charles Miers, v-p and publisher of the Rizzoli and Universe imprints, and John Brancati, v-p and marketing director for the imprints, will remain in their posts and will report to Ausenda; Ausenda will report to Gianna Vallardi, chairman of RCS.
