Teicher Named ABA CEO

by Judith Rosen -- Publishers Weekly, 4/1/2009 1:20:00 PM

Oren Teicher, COO of the American Booksellers Association, was named CEO effective June 1. He will succeed the current CEO, Avin Domnitz, who announced his plans to retire in January.

Teicher brings with him “an encyclopedic knowledge of everything associated with ABA’s past and current programs, coupled with his thoughtful and insightful analysis of how ABA can meet our future challenges,” noted ABA president Gayle Shanks in an e-mail that went out to the association’s membership. He has held a variety of positions at ABA, including associate executive director, director of government affairs and founding president of ABFFE.

The question of who will replace Teicher—and what other changes at ABA may be afoot during these difficult economic times—remains open. The board is using the change in management to review the association’s programs and expenses, according to Shanks. She also noted that the CEO's contract, which has sometimes been an issue for members, "will fit well within the norm for trade associations of our size." Details surrounding the new CEO contract will be made available to the membership after they are finalized, Shanks noted. 

The book community will have a chance to say their goodbyes to Domnitz at BEA. A farewell is scheduled for Thursday evening, May 28, at Hotel ABA (aka the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge).