David Davidar has resigned as president of Penguin Canada and is returning to India a to return to writing and other projects, Penguin Canada announced Tuesday afternoon. Nicole Winstanley, who was named publisher of Penguin Group Canada last fall, will remain in that role with Penguin USA CEO David Shanks taking on overall responsibility for the company. In a brief statement, Penguin Canada said the move “ is designed to ensure Penguin’s North American companies can respond swiftly and decisively to strategic opportunities offered by new digital channels and new forms of content wherever they arise,” adding that the company remains committed to its domestic publishing program.
At press time there was no word on whether anyone will replace Davidar as CEO of Penguin International, a new division created at last year’s Frankfurt Book Fair as part of Penguin chairman John Makinson’s plan to put the CEOs of four of Penguin’s major subsidiaries in charge of different regions to promote what he called a local market focus combined with a global publishing approach. While remaining president of Penguin Canada, Davidar was in charge of Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian sub-continent. Before joining Penguin Canada, Davidar founded Penguin’s Indian subsidiary.
