Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers announced today that Melanie Nolan is taking on the role of v-p and publisher of the imprint, effective immediately. Nolan will report to Barbara Marcus, president and publisher of Random House Children’s Books.

Previously, Nolan served as v-p and associate publishing director. Since joining Random House in 2012, Melanie has guided the publication of several award-winning and bestselling books and franchises, including Jean Reagan’s How To picture books, Jennifer Niven’s YA novels, the Leo Lionni backlist, a new publishing program with children’s performer Raffi, and forthcoming titles by Caldecott Medalist David Small, debut novelist K.G. Campbell, and YA authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Prior to coming to Random House, Nolan was publishing director at Bloomsbury Children’s Books, overseeing a list of authors and illustrators such as Shannon Hale, Jessica Day George, LeUyen Pham, Alexander McCall Smith, and Julianne Moore.

Nolan succeeds Jennifer M. Brown, who left the company last August.

Senior executive editors Erin Clarke and Nancy Siscoe, executive editor Michelle Frey, and Wendy Lamb, v-p and publishing director of Wendy Lamb Books, will now report to Nolan, with Karen Greenberg, Katherine Harrison, and Julia Maguire continuing to work under her as well.