Laurie Parkin has been named v-p and publisher of the Kensington Publishing Corp. Parkin, who began at Kensington last month, replaces Lynn Brown, who resigned from the company last fall (News, Sept. 7, 1998).

Prior to joining Kensington, Parkin was v-p and director of national retail chain sales for Penguin Putnam. At Penguin she helped launch the Topaz romance line. Parkin told PW she has known Kensington chairman Walter Zacharius "my entire career. Kensington is doing lots of exciting things that I want to be a part of." Kensington president Steven Zacharius said that Parkin's "extensive background in marketing and merchandising will be a strong asset to us as we venture into many new areas."