Jeff Alexander will join The Penguin Press as a senior editor on October 29. He was previously an editor at Vintage/Anchor.

Tess Woods has left Newman Communications to start her own firm, Tess Woods PR, LLC.

Dan Gerstle will be joining Basic Books in the role of associate editor. He was previously at Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

At Penguin Young Readers Group, Shanta Newlin has been promoted to executive director of publicity.

After 33 years with Chronicle Books, food and drink editorial director Bill LeBlond has announced his retirement. His last day will be Thursday, November 7.