Friday, March 14, 2014

DiPreta to Lead New Hachette Books Division & Consolidated Leadership for Penguin Random House South Africa

Publishers Lunch

Mauro DiPreta will join Hachette Book Group on March 31 as publisher of their new nonfiction-focused Hachette Books line, built on top of the recently-acquired Hyperion backlist and designed to cover "a broad spectrum of subjects and interests." Most recently he has been editor in chief of Crown Archetype.
DiPreta will "be responsible for the division's direction and publishing" and will join HBG's Executive Management Board, and report to ceo Michael Pietsch. The current Hyperion staff will become part of Hachette Books and report to DiPreta, with additional staff hired "as necessary." Interim publisher Martha Levin will complete her assignment at the end of March. Hachette Books will publish narrative nonfiction, business, pop culture, science, health and wellness, humor, and some fiction.
Pietsch says in the announcement, "Mauro DiPreta is renowned for his superb publishing instincts, leadership, collaboration, and editorial talent, and we are thrilled that he has chosen to join HBG to lead our new division. The Hyperion backlist provides the perfect base for Hachette Books, which will focus on non-fiction, an important growth area for HBG."

Current managing director of Random House Struik in South Africa Steve Connolly is now set to become MD of the combined Penguin Random House South Africa, and will take on additional leadership of Penguin Books South Africa during the integration process. Penguin SA finance director Claire Grant will take on similar groupwide responsibility, and will direct the integration of all finance, operations and IT functions.

CEO, Penguin Random House International Ian Hudson noted that current Penguin Books SA Stephen Johnson "has agreed to stay on in this position until the middle of 2014 to help with the transition. I would like to thank Stephen for his excellent stewardship and support over the last 12 months and I am very grateful that we will continue to benefit from his insight to help guide our smooth transition.


Separately, in the US Random House announced their next "open house" event for readers, on May 2. Featured authors include Gary Shteyngart, Emma Straub, Jenny McCarthy and Ruth Reichl.

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