Sporkin to Handle Communications for AAP

Andi Sporkin has been named v-p of communication at the Association of American Publishers. In the newly created role Sporkin, who will be based in AAP's Washington, DC, office, will handle everything from media relations to industry branding initiatives. She will start on February 9 and report to Tom Allen, president and CEO.

Editor and Publisher Ruth Cavin Dies

Editor and publisher Ruth Cavin died Sunday in White Plains, N.Y., after a short illness. She was 92. For the past 22 years, Cavin was associate publisher of Thomas Dunne Books, where she acquired and edited some 900 books, mostly mysteries.

Job Moves: January 12, 2011

Seth Kaufman has joined Copia, the social reading eBookstore, as v-p of marketing and merchandising. Kaufman was most recently at BN.com, where he was v-p of merchandising.

Lehman Replaced With Goldstein at Twelve

In a quick changing-of-the-guard at Twelve, Hachette has replaced publisher Susan Lehman with Cary Goldstein. While many were surprised when Lehman was picked in September to head Jonathan Karp's boutique imprint at Hachette, after Karp decamped for Simon & Schuster, a mild shock ran through the industry on Tuesday when word broke that Lehman's tenure had been cut that short.

Sarnoff Leaving Bertelsmann for KKR

Longtime Bertelsmann and Random House executive Richard Sarnoff will step down from his position as president of Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments at the end of the month to join one of the country's largest private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Although he has not had an active role at RH in several years, Sarnoff played a key part in constructing the country's largest trade house, having been one of the architects of Bertelsmann's purchase of Random.

Job Moves: January 11, 2011

Allison Verost is joining HarperCollins tomorrow as assistant director of publicity of the children's department. In her nearly eight years at Penguin Young Readers Group, Verost worked on campaigns for Matched by Ally Condie, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, and other YA projects; as well as the Skippyjon Jones series by Judy Schachner.

People: Week of 1/10/11

Grandstaff to UVA Press and more.

Job Moves: January 7, 2011

At Rizzoli, Linda Pricci has been promoted to marketing manager, creative services and social/new media. Pricci joined Rizzoli in 2003 as a sales and marketing coordinator. Since then, her responsibilities in the department grew to include the design and production of trade catalogs, and the management of Rizzoli's Web presence and e-book projects, and its academic and library marketing.

Job Moves: January 6, 2011

Adam Korn is returning to HarperCollins as executive editor at William Morrow on January 8. Korn was most recently a literary agent with DeFiore and Company.

Comings and Goings: January 5, 2011

If you've been laid off recently, left your job or landed a new position and would like to pass along your contact information to others in the business, send details to pwletters@reedbusiness.com. Please include your full name and former title/company.

Tamson Weston has left Disney Hyperion to found Tamson Weston Books, an editorial consultancy. She will be working with agents and publishers to develop book projects, and helping new authors fine-tune manuscripts, proposals and picture book dummies. Weston can be found on the Web at www.tamsonweston.com.

Job Moves: January 5, 2011

Gretchen Young has been promoted to vice president, executive editor of Hyperion, and editorial director of ABC Synergy, reporting to editor in chief Elisabeth Dyssegaard. Young will expand her role as chief editorial liaison with the ABC Television Group, while also continuing to acquire and edit nonfiction and fiction titles for Hyperion.

Job Moves: January 4, 2010

A number of staffers moved up at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Alvina Ling, former senior editor, has been promoted to executive editor. Audrey Sclater has been promoted from art director to marketing creative director. And Victoria Stapleton, former associate director, has been promoted to director, school and library marketing.

Comings and Goings: December 22, 2010

If you've been laid off recently, or left your job, and would like to pass along your contact information to others in the business, send details to pwletters@publishersweekly.com. Please include your full name and former title/company.

Lori Ames, former executive v-p at Jane Wesman Public Relations, can be reached at theprfreelancer@yahoo.com.

Job Moves: December 22, 2010

Ginny Miller will be leaving New Society Publishers, where she is marketing coordinator, on December 23 to travel and return to freelance writing. Sara Reeves, who was with NSP for 10 years, is returning in the New Year to take Miller's place.

JIST Publishing Founder James Michael Farr Dies

James Michael Farr, founder of JIST Publishing and author of more than 20 career books, died on Sunday at age 64. Farr founded JIST in 1981, and over the next 20-plus years served as the primary author of the Best Jobs series and Top Careers series, as well as Same-Day Resume and The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book. His books have sold more than two million copies.

Ron Shank, Former Group Publisher of 'LJ,' 'SLJ,' and 'PW,' Dies

Ron Shank, the longtime publisher of Library Journal and School Library Journal who later became v-p and group publisher for LJ, SLJ, and Publishers Weekly, died on Saturday. Shank had non-Hodgkins lymphoma and had taken a leave of absence this fall from his position at LJ and SLJ, which are now owned by Media Source.

Job Moves: December 20, 2010

Agent Deborah Grosvenor is re-establishing the Grosvenor Literary Agency, which she ran for 10 years prior to joining Kneerim & Williams.

Job Moves: December 17, 2010

Lani Kaneta has been promoted to manager, academic marketing at Random House. She has been with the department since 2006, and in 2008 took over responsibility for RHPG's and the academic marketing department's outreach to the high school market.

Job Moves: December 16, 2010

St. Martin’s Press has hired Paul Hochman as director of social media. In this newly created position, he will oversee social media marketing and community building. Hochman was most recently at B&N.com as manager of acquisition marketing, content, and social media. Hochman will report to SMP publishers Sally Richardson and Matthew Shear.

Job Moves: December 15, 2010

The International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) has appointed Bill McCoy executive director, effective January 9. McCoy, who replaced Michael Smith, most recently served as general manager, Digital Publishing at Adobe Systems and had served two terms on the IDPF board. As a result of his appointment, the IDPF office will move from Toronto to the Seattle area.