Phil Friedman, a longtime Grolier executive who most recently served as chief financial officer at Scholastic Library Publishing, has resigned to pursue other interests.

Friedman is credited with leading the team that developed Grolier's online program as well as its specialty and academic reference programs. Following Scholastic's purchase of Grolier, he became part of Scholastic's library group. A spokesperson said Scholastic is looking to replace Friedman, though no successor has been appointed.

Friedman is the third prominent executive to leave Scholastic this year. Michael Jacobs, senior v-p of the trade division, resigned in early February, and CFO Kevin McEnery left later in the month.

The Scholastic library unit has also seen its share of management turnover. Last June, Greg Worrell was appointed president, the third person to hold that spot in about a year.