John Mendelson, director of trade sales at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in Boston, is crossing the river to take on the newly created position of senior v-p of sales and digital initiatives at Candlewick Press in Somerville, Mass., starting May 18.

“John brings tremendous energy and broad experience, a developed perspective on where publishing is heading, and creative ideas about how to bring the best books to readers in the new digital marketplace,” said president and publisher Karen Lotz in announcing Mendelson’s hiring.

In other sales and marketing news, Susan Batcheller was promoted from executive director of marketing services and sales operations, a position she has held since July, 2008, to v-p of marketing services and sales operations. And Sharon Hancock was promoted to executive director of school and library marketing; she was previously director of school and library marketing.

Batcheller, along with Jeanne Emanuel, v-p of sales for the U.S. and Canada, and Brooke Husbands, book club and subsidiary rights sales manager, will report to Mendelson.