When Michael Jacobs took over as CEO of Harry Abrams in 2004, an important part of his mandate was to diversify what was then the leading illustrated book publisher in the country. Jacobs, who handed the CEO reins over to Mary McAveney at the end of November, succeeded in building the company, now named Abrams, into one of the industry’s most vital midsize publishers. Through acquisitions, including that of the Overlook Press, and internal startups, Abrams now publishes in the categories of adult fiction and narrative nonfiction, graphic novels, crafts and cooking, and calendars. Its children’s publishing group is home to several imprints, including Amulet Books, which publishes Jeff Kinney’s megaselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The 17th volume in the series, Diper Överlöde, was released this fall, and the series has sold 275 million copies worldwide, according to the publisher.
To accommodate Abrams’s growth (it now has about 170 employees), In 2017, Jacobs moved the company headquarters to newly refurbished offices at 195 Broadway in Manhattan. When the pandemic struck, among other programs meant to help employees through the disruption, Jacobs created “ask me anything” Zoom sessions in which he answered questions from staff.
Jacobs’s colleagues are appreciative of his management style. “Michael’s leadership has guided Abrams through tremendous growth over the past 18 years,” says Melanie Chang, senior v-p for marketing and publicity. “Throughout all the ebbs and flows the publishing industry has experienced, Michael has brought wisdom and strategy to our publishing, while always remaining mindful that underlying the success of our books and authors is the spirit, culture, and community of Abrams itself. The company’s mission statement—‘We are Abrams’—is quite intentional and something Michael embodies as a leader, mentor, and friend.”
Beyond Abrams, Jacobs has also been very active in various industry organizations, including serving on the boards of the National Coalition Against Censorship (where he was also chair for a period) and the Academy of American Poets, where he has served since 2006 and was chair from 2013 to 2021. In addition, Jacobs served two terms on the board of governors of Yale University Press and recently joined the board of the Yaddo artist retreat in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
With McAveney taking over as CEO, Jacobs has assumed the role of executive chair of the board at Abrams and will remain on the board of Abrams & Chronicle Books in the U.K. He will also serve in an advisory capacity to Abrams parent company Média-Participations. “Leading Abrams has been the culmination of my professional life,” Jacobs reflected. “Over more than four decades in this industry, I’ve had the privilege of growing, learning, and teaching with great mentors, colleagues, and friends. It’s all been a blessing.”
