Chinese Publisher Buys Book List for U.S. Unit  

by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 7/29/2008 1:59:00 PM

In one of the first acquisitions by a Chinese company of a North American publishing property, People's Medical Publishing House has acquired the medical and dental book line from Ontario, Canada-based BC Decker. The list of approximately 100 active titles will now be overseen by Martin Wonsiewicz, who in January was named president and publisher of PMPH’s new American office in Shelton, Ct. PMPH, part of the Chinese Ministry of Health, publishes more than 1,500 books and has annual revenue of over $120 million.

Wonsiewicz, whose background includes executive roles at McGraw-Hill, Saunders and Decker, said the purchase of the Decker line “moves us from a start-up to an ongoing company faster than we could have grown on our own.” PMPH began distributing some of its own texts, which includes works dealing with Western medicine plus titles on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) such as acupuncture, in late 2006. To date, about 150 books, DVDs and wall charts have been translated into English, and have been sold by the Red Wing and China Books distributors. To help sell the existing line as well as the new Decker product, Wonsiewicz has just hired Tim Stanton as sales and marketing manager.

The first Decker books under PMPH ownership are due out shortly and will be cobranded as Decker/PMPH titles. Red Wing and China Books will continue to distribute for PMPH and major wholesalers of medical titles, such as Baker & Taylor, will also handle the line. Titles will be sold in international markets by McGraw-Hill. Many of the Decker backlist titles will also be translated into Chinese and most new titles will be printed in English and Chinese simultaneously.

While Wonsiewicz said his first objective is develop a solid base for PMPH he said the company “will continue to look for other acquisition opportunities.”