Hemming Departs, Murray Promoted at HarperCollins

Cathy Hemming, president and publisher of HarperCollins's General Books Group, has resigned, and Brian Murray has been promoted to the newly created position of group president.

HC spokesperson Lisa Herling declined to detail why Hemming was leaving, while a companywide memo from HC CEO Jane Friedman thanked her. "She has been instrumental in the great success of the General Books Group and has made many contributions throughout the organization." Friedman also credited Hemming for being "a trusted adviser to me."

Hemming joined HC in the summer of 1998, after a long tenure at Penguin and a stint under Ann Godoff as publisher of Little Random. Last summer at HC, she realigned the General Books Group in what she called an effort to create "smaller, more accountable teams." She also announced a new paperback line and regrouped the trade paper imprint.

Murray, most recently CEO of Harper Australia/ New Zealand, joined HC in 1997; before his move to Australia, he was senior v-p and managing director of the General Books Group. In addition to overseeing the General Books Group, Murray will be responsible for HC Australia/ New Zealand and HC Canada.

The earlier departure of David Steinberger, who had a strong international role (his shoes had been filled on an interim basis by Glenn D'Agnes), contributed to the company's decision to custom-design these broad powers for Murray. Said Herling: "The new positions have part of each's [Hemming's and Steinbeger's] former roles." Murray starts July 6 and will report to Friedman.