There are no guarantees in publishing...

Publishers Lunch had a handy chart today which details the change in guard that has been occurring at a number of the houses/distribution companies over the past few months. I have nicely pasted it in below for your viewing pleasure. As you can see, not even the big-wigs are safe in these times of economic hardship. Now the question is, what does this mean for us lowly employees? Is this an indication of progress? Are publishers finally getting the clue that times are a changing, and we need to make room for a new generation? Or is it simply another way of cutting-costs and a scary sign that no matter how powerful you are, there’s always someone waiting in the wings to steal your ergonomic chair out from under you?

—Ladytron


June

• Brian Murray, HarperCollins (following Jane Friedman)
• Dan Farley, president, Henry Holt (following John Sterling, who transitioned to a different position at the company in February)

May

• Markus Dohle, Random House (following Peter Olson)

April

• Ellen Archer, Hyperion (following Bob Miller)
• Judy Hottensen, Weinstein Books, interim (following Rob Weisbach)

March

• Karen Rinaldi, Rodale Books, general manager and publishing director
• Colin Dickerman, Bloomsbury USA, publisher, with Richard Charkin as president (following Karen Rinaldi)

January

• David (Skip) Prichard, Ingram Book Group (following Jim Chandler)
• Jack Eugster, Baker & Taylor (following Richard Willis)Marcus Leaver, Sterling (following Charlie Nurnberg)
• Carolyn Reidy, Simon & Schuster (following Jack Romanos)
• Maureen "Moe" Girkins, Zondervan

December

• Brian Elliott, Alibris (following founder Marty Manley)