Ruediger Wischenbart, chief press officer of the Frankfurt Book Fair for the past four years, is leaving, apparently by mutual agreement.

Sources speculated that his departure might be related to the reported cancellation of the planned "Frankfurt in New York" rights fair that had been announced for the end of next April. Wischenbart has been active as one of the organizers of such outside events, including Frankfurt's "Virtual Book Fair" and the "Big Questions Conference" held just before this year's fair.

Although there had been no official word on the cancellation at press time, a recent meeting of the fair's board postponed a decision to go ahead until its planned meeting in January, making it extremely unlikely the fair would take place.