Michelle Montague has been named head of sales and marketing at Behrman House. The news follows the recent announcement from Behrman that longtime owners David Behrman and Vicki Weber are retiring, with industry veteran Derek Stordahl acquiring the company.
As part of Behrman’s executive team, Montague will spearhead educator engagement, marketing campaigns, and strategies for revenue growth. She will report to Behrman House president and publisher Stordahl, who said in a statement, “Having seen Michelle’s marketing expertise and outstanding results across a range of categories, I’m delighted to have her join our leadership team.”
Montague was most recently VP of trade marketing and publicity at Walker Books Group, which includes Candlewick Press, Holiday House Publishing, and Peachtree Publishing. Previously, she held marketing roles at Abrams, Simon & Schuster, and Putnam. She oversaw campaigns for notable titles including Pura Belpré Award winner Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, Sydney Taylor Book Award winner The Passover Guest by Susan Kussel, and I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith, which earned the Schneider Family Book Award, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and was a New York Times Best Children’s Book of the Year
Montague said in a statement, “Joining Behrman House is a rare opportunity to align my passion for book marketing with my devotion to my Jewish heritage. There are so many important books on both the Behrman House and [children’s imprint] Apples and Honey Press lists, books that are vital to build knowledge, cultivate resilience, and to support Jewish families and our larger community.”
