The integration of Penguin and Random House was always expected to start with the two companies’ back office operations, and this morning Penguin Random House U.S. president and COO Madeline McIntosh announced the creation of a cross-company senior management team for PRH’s fulfillment operations. The unit, which will have duties that include distributing more than 2 million print copies daily to booksellers, will be headed by Annette Danek, who was appointed senior v-p, director of fulfillment, PRH.
In her memo announcing the appointment, McIntosh said Danek, who is based in the company’s Westminster, Md. facility, will be “overseeing both the operation and the evolving integration of our U.S. fulfillment network for the combined company.” McIntosh added that “the project to develop a cohesive Penguin Random House fulfillment network was initiated in July, but the work will extend over time, with our separate Penguin and Random House distribution centers’ day-to-day operational responsibilities remaining unchanged in the meantime.”
Other appointments in the combined group include Jim Clark who will resume his previous position as senior v-p, fulfillment and customer service, Penguin (USA) overseeing the company’s Pittston, Pa., Kirkwood, N.Y., and Old Tappan, N.J. operations. He reports to Danek. Mike Gallagher, Penguin’s v-p, director, manufacturing procurement, who had been overseeing Penguin’s warehouses, “will now apply his complete attention and experience to working with the cross-company team on our future print vendor agreements,” according to McIntosh. He continues to report to Doug Whiteman, executive v-p, business operations, Penguin (USA).
Andrew Orlando, Penguin’s senior v-p, transportation and customer compliance, is retiring at the end of the year after 35 years. He is transitioning his responsibilities to Valerie Van Delft, who has been appointed v-p, logistics for PRH, reporting to Danek.
