Random House Unites Retail Sales Force
by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 1/26/2004
In the latest significant change in its adult sales force, Random House has combined its two separate retail sales forces into a single unit. Now, most reps will sell all adult Random titles; in the past, one retail sales force sold titles from the "old" Random House groups, while another sold titles from what had been Bantam Doubleday Dell. Paul Kozlowski will direct the combined force as v-p, director of retail field sales. Christian Waters remains v-p, deputy director of retail field sales, while Ruth Liebmann continues as director, independent bookselling. Both report to Kozlowski.
The merger will result in the elimination of 10 field and telemarketing positions, still leaving Random with more than 70 reps. According to a memo from Don Weisberg, executive v-p and COO of North America, the reps' "longstanding account-specific assignments are largely preserved."
The combination of the field reps comes approximately seven months after Random unified its separate management sales teams. With the move, Random now has one adult sales force and one children's sales force, a goal the company had been aiming for since the Random House–Bantam Doubleday Dell merger five and a half years ago.
