'No Radical Departure' at Ingram

Skip Prichard, who took over for the retiring Jim Chandler as president and CEO of Ingram Book Group last week, said he plans to focus on executing the strategy put in place by Chandler during the three and a half years he spent running the company. “There will be no radical departure,” Prichard said. Among the priorities are expanding the international distribution businesses. In addition, Prichard said, he will work closely with Kirby Best, head of Ingram's Lightning Source unit, and James Gray, president of Ingram Digital Group, to develop strategies that will benefit all of Ingram's customers.

Prichard inherited an “excellent management team,” consisting of a mix of company veterans and a few newcomers. In addition to serving as head of Ingram Publisher Services, Phil Ollila is head of sales for the wholesaling unit and also oversees the international group and Spring Arbor.