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Two M&B Executives Leave
Steven M. Zeitchik -- 2/28/00

MacMurray & Beck, the small Denver press with a number of recent critical hits, has announced that publisher and executive editor Frederick Ramey and general fiction editor Greg Michalson left the company at the end of last week. Ramey cited the house's success as the reason for his departure.

No one will replace the pair, who are leaving to pursue undisclosed "new opportunities." Instead, the house will be run by a four-person management team, the heads of the sales, marketing, editorial and operations departments. "We have never been a hierarchical organization and we will continue to move forward as a team," marketing director Caitlin Hamilton told PW.

The biggest blow comes in the editorial department, where only Leslie Koffler remains. Koffler is looking into bringing in additional full-time staff; Hamilton said the company will definitely hire freelancers. Among the house's recent editorial coups: The Girl in Hyacinth Blue and Hummingbird House, with the latter scoring a National Book Award nomination. In a statement, Ramey attributed his decision to this very triumph. "MacMurray & Beck's success was actually the impetus for my decision," Ramey said. "When Hummingbird House became a finalist for the National Book Award, it seemed time for new goals, both for me and for MacMurray & Beck." Ramey was the driving editorial force behind Hummingbird House. Michalson was unavailable for comment.

Hamilton said there are no plans to cut M&B's title output; in fact, she said, the house will release eight titles this fall, equal to the total number it published last year.

MacMurray & Beck is owned by a private investor who is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. According to a spokesperson, sales exceeded expectations the last two years.

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