Consolidation, Layoffs at Macmillan
By Rocco Staino -- School Library Journal, 12/30/2008
On New Year’s day, seven familiar book companies will come together under one managing entity called Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Roaring Brook Press , Feiwel and Friends, Square Fish, First Second, and Priddy Books will now be overseen by Dan Farley, who was named president by Macmillan’s CEO, John Sargent. Farley is currently publisher for Henry Holt.
Assisting Farley will be Jean Feiwel, publisher of Feiwel and Friends, and Simon Boughton, publisher of Roaring Brook Press, both named as Senior Vice Presidents. In a statement released by Jonathan Galassi, publisher of Farrar, he explained that Roaring Brook Press and First Second will be folded into the FSG umbrella.
“Everyone (the children publishers in the Macmillan group) agreed that we want to become a stronger and more significant presence in this market, though not all agreed on how to get there,” Galassi says.
The other book companies will become an imprint of Macmillan Children’s with a consolidated marketing department including publicity, school and library sales, and other promotional efforts.
“We remain no less committed to our distinct imprint identities,” says Farley, “Editorial vision and our title development performance remain the creative core of our business and crucial for our success.”
Some 64 positions have been cut as a result of the consolidation. This comes shortly after an announcement that all employees earning over $50,000 will face a salary freeze.
