Bill Shinker, who founded Random House’s Broadway Books imprint in 1996 and Penguin’s Gotham Books imprint five years later, will step down as president and publisher of the Gotham Books and Avery Books imprint at the end of the month. He will be succeeded in that post by Brian Tart, who will remain president and publisher of Dutton.

In making the announcement, Penguin president Susan Petersen Kennedy said both imprints will continue with no change in their publishing programs. Gotham Books, Kennedy wrote in a memo to employees “will maintain its publication of 25 hardcover and 30 trade paperback titles a year, with a focus on acquiring in its core categories: pop culture, practical inspiration and self-help, the importance of (quirky) language, news-breaking sports, golf instruction; and aspirational lifestyle and fashion.

Avery will continue to acquire and publish approximately 20 new titles a year in the health, fitness, and wellness categories as well as promoting its backlist.

In this new role as president and publisher of Gotham Books/Avery, Tart will oversee the hardcover and paperback lists. Newly reporting to him are Lisa Johnson, v-p, associate publisher, Gotham Books/Avery; Lauren Marino, v-p, editorial director, Gotham Books; and Megan Newman, v-p, editorial director, Avery.

Shinker, well known for his love of golf, has been in publishing for about 40 years. After working at what is now Anderson’s Books in Naperville, Ill., Shinker worked at Avon Books and Warner Books before moving to HarperCollins. After leaving HC, Shinker started Broadway Books and then--after a brief period at Free Press--joined Penguin to start Gotham.

Shinker has worked with hundreds of authors, among them Hank Aaron, Isabel Allende, Erma Bombeck, John Gray, Marcella Hazan, Oscar Hijuelos, Tony Hillerman, Susan Isaacs, Barbara Kingsolver, Milan Kundera, Dean Ornish, Harriet Lerner, Sue Miller, Thomas Moore, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Bryson, Bob Costas, Cindy Crawford, Deborah Madison, Frances Mayes, Tim O’Brien, Rick Pitino, Pat Summitt, Richard Price, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. At Gotham his authors and books included Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss; the #1 national bestseller Game of Shadows by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams; and the New York Times bestsellers, The Girls from Ames, Letters to a Young Brother, and I Can Has Cheezburger?.