Ellen Beal, formerly director of product development with Berlitz International, has been named editorial director of Running Press, a subsidiary of Perseus Books. In addition, Jennifer Kasius, formerly with Crown, has joined the company as a senior editor.

Beal has more than 18 years of experience in book development, brand licensing and product development, as well as experience with printing and manufacturing. She has worked for such publishers as Thomson Learning and Berlitz trade publishing.