Harlequin Reorganizes Editorial Team

Reacting to three consecutive quarters of disappointing sales, Harlequin has made a number of changes in its editorial operations that publisher Donna Hayes said "will put the right people with the right jobs." The reorganization will shift some top editors into new posts, while giving others more authority. No positions have been eliminated.

The most prominent change is the creation of the new post of executive v-p, global publishing and strategy, which will be filled by Loriana Sacilotto, former head of Harlequin's North American retail group. Reporting to Sacilotto will be Isabel Swift, v-p, author and asset development; Randall Toye, director of global series; Dianne Moggy, director of global single titles; Janet Finlay, director of research, and a new position, director, editorial analysis. Hayes said Sacilotto has "great vision for our publishing program and the strategy to implement it."

Swift, who had been v-p, editorial, will now be responsible for acquiring new authors, developing plans to move up the company's top-tier authors faster and leveraging Harlequin's existing content into other formats, such as manga and audio, Hayes said.

All series development will now be directed by Toye, formerly head of editorial planning. Tara Gavin, who had directed series development, will focus on Next, Harlequin's newest series, set for release in 2005. Hayes said Harlequin would like to add one new series each year and eliminate underperforming series quicker. The company recently decided to cancel its 2003 series Flipside.

Moggy, who launched Harlequin's first single-title imprint, Mira Books, has been put in charge of all single-title development. Hayes said single-title sales now represent almost 50% of revenue, and the company plans to publish more titles in hardcover and trade paperback. It will also look to land more bestselling authors, along the line of Carly Phillips, whose Hot Stuff just hit PW's mass market bestseller list.