Kara Welsh, president of the Ballantine Books Group, will depart the Random House Publishing Group after 25 years with the company, effective March 31. Her departure was announced by RHPG president Sanyu Dillon.
Welsh joined RHPG in 2016 as EVP and publisher of Ballantine Bantam Dell in 2016, succeeding Libby McGuire. Previously, she had served as SVP and publisher of Penguin’s Berkley Group. She was promoted to president of the renamed Ballantine Group—which comprises the Ballantine, Bantam, Dell, and Delacorte imprints—in 2021.
During her tenure at Ballantine, Welsh “steered the publications of some of the industry’s most successful authors,” Dillon said, such as Isabel Allende, Lee Child, Jodi Picoult, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Nicholas Sparks, and Daniel Steel.
In light of Welsh’s departure, Scott Shannon has been named president of Ballantine Bantam Dell, moving out of his previous role as president of Random House Worlds, which he has held since 2023. He joined RHPG in 2006 as VP and deputy publisher of Del Rey.
Reporting to Shannon will be Jennifer Hershey, publisher of Ballantine Bantam Dell; Kim Hovey, SVP and deputy publisher; Jean Quinn, director of backlist; and Sydney Meve, associate publishing manager.
“Together with the powerhouse BBD editorial team, Scott will drive an ambitious growth agenda while strengthening BBD’s market leadership in commercial publishing across categories such as book club fiction, commercial nonfiction, romance, mystery, thriller and more,” Dillon said in the announcement.
With Shannon's promotion, Keith Clayton will take on an expanded leadership role as SVP and publisher of Random House Worlds, assuming full day-to-day responsibility for the strategy, direction, and operations of its publishing programs. Clayton, who was previously VP and publisher, will report to Dillon.
“These appointments mark an exciting next chapter for both imprint teams and for RHPG,” said Dillon. “I’m grateful for the leadership Scott has brought to Random House Worlds and energized by what he will now bring to BBD, and I have great confidence in Keith as he continues to lead and grow Random House Worlds.”
