PGW/AMS Mull Back-office Moves

by Judith Rosen -- Publishers Weekly, 1/31/2005

Publishers Group West is in talks with parent company Advanced Marketing Services to consolidate some back-office operations in AMS's San Diego, Calif., office.

"Nothing has been decided regarding who or how many positions will be affected," PGW president Rich Freese told PW. He said a PGW/AMS management team expects to complete its review process about what functions may be moved to San Diego in a few weeks. Freese said the pending change in the back office "is about positioning PGW for continued growth," and added, "AMS has consistently invested in the sales and marketing infrastructure" since he took over 18 months ago.

PGW appears to have staunched the flow of clients, which began after its purchase by AMS two years ago and includes Viz's switch to Simon & Schuster last summer. For the fiscal year ending this March, the distributor will have added its most new publishers in three years. Earlier this month, PGW began selling House of Anansi in Canada, and its reps will add Wisdom Publications in Somerville, Mass., in June. Three publishing startups have also recently signed with PGW.