S&S Children’s Unveils Reorg, Cuts Three Positions

By Rachel Deahl -- Publishers Weekly, 2/19/2008 6:01:00 PM

In a memo to his staff, Rick Richter, president of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, has announced a reorganization of the division. The changes have resulted in, among other things, one new hire and the elimination of three positions. The restructuring creates three distinct units that will handle both the hardcover and paperback editions, a move that is more in line with how the house's adult imprints now publish.

On the departure front, Dee Anne Grande (formerly with Little Simon Inspirations), Susan Burke (of Atheneum) and Renne Fountain (in subsidiary rights) have all been laid off. The layoffs are, according to Richter, a result of the creation of these “discrete units”—the trade group (which includes S&S Books for Young Readers, Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books), the media tie-in and novelty division, and a new unit that includes the Aladdin and Pulse imprints.

The restructuring, in addition to the layoffs, has created various title changes; in addition, there is one new hire: Stephanie Voros, who is joining the company as v-p, subsidiary rights; she is currently director of subsidiary rights at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Voros starts at S&S on March 10.

In the trade group, which will continue to be overseen by Ruben Pfeffer, senior v-p and publisher of children’s trade, Emma Dryden has been bumped up to v-p and publisher of Atheneum and Margaret K. McElderry. Also in the trade division, Justin Chanda has been promoted to v-p and publisher of S&S Books for Young Readers. In the media tie-in branch, Valerie Garfield will continue to oversee Little Simon, Simon Spotlight, Little Simon Inspirations and Simon Scribbles. For the new Aladdin and Pulse division, Bethany Buck has been promoted from v-p and associate publisher of Simon Pulse to v-p and publisher of the new combined Aladdin/Pulse.

According to Richter, the reorganization creates a vertical structure that will allow both editors and authors to “take a longer view of a book’s life and to actively participate in the publishing process for the full cycle of the book.” The change also calls for Aladdin/Pulse to maintain a focus on middle grade and teen titles.

Also as part of the reorganization, each unit will now have its own associate or deputy publisher. To that end Mara Anastas has been promoted from v-p of sales and subsidiary rights to v-p and deputy publisher of Aladdin/Pulse. Alyson Grubbard, currently director of brand management, will take on the additional title of associate publisher for the media tie-in and novelty division. The trade unit is looking to fill the post of associate publisher, a position that will report to Pfeffer.