New Penguin Publishing Group to Be Led by McIntosh

Penguin Random House’s Chief Executive Officer Markus Dohle announced this week the formation of the Penguin Publishing Group, which brings together Penguin’s adult imprints under the leadership of President Madeline McIntosh, formerly U.S. president and chief operating officer. McIntosh will report to Dohle.  Penguin’s adult imprints were previously managed as two groups, Penguin Adult and Berkley/NAL. Leslie Gelbman, president of the Berkley and New American Library Publishing Group, will join McIntosh on the senior publishing leadership team.

Citing the need for more unified publishing strategies among the adult publishing imprints, Dohle said that the new alignment will offer the opportunity of greater collaboration and coordination. The autonomy of the publishing imprints will remain intact. None of the changes affects the Penguin Young Readers Group.

Now reporting to McIntosh from the former Penguin Adult group will be Kathryn Court, president and publisher, Penguin Books; John Duff, vice president, publisher, Perigee, senior editor, GP Putnam’s Sons;  Clare Ferraro, president, Viking, Penguin, Plume; Joel Fotinos, vice president, publisher, Tarcher; Ann Godoff, president and editor in chief, Penguin Press; Ivan Held, president, GP Putnam’s Sons; Geoff Kloske, vice president, publisher, Riverhead Books; David Rosenthal, president and publisher, Blue Rider Press; Brian Tart, president and publisher, Dutton, Gotham, Avery; and Adrian Zackheim, president and publisher, Portfolio, Sentinel.

Due to the change in operations, Penguin Group U.S. President Susan Petersen Kennedy, an employee of 35 years who headed the Penguin Adult hardcover and trade imprints, will be leaving the company at the end of the year. “I am leaving the company that I love, books that I love, people whom I love,” said Petersen Kennedy. “I have spent so many years in the service of this enterprise; it will take time for me to discover where Penguin ends and I begin. However, the world is endlessly fascinating to me. And I am looking forward to further adventures in the arts.”

As McIntosh moves into her role as president of Penguin Publishing Group, two senior staff members who reported to her are also being promoted.  Nihar Malaviya and Jaci Updike will now report to Dohle and will become members of the Penguin Random House North America Board.

Malaviya has been named Penguin Random House’s executive vice president, chief operating officer in the U.S. Now reporting to Malaviya are Amanda Close, senior vice president, director, digital marketplace development; Annette Danek, senior vice president, director, fulfillment; Jeff Abraham, president, Penguin Random House Publisher Services; Yvette Dano, vice president, director of operations, Penguin; and Brendan Cahill, vice president, corporate projects.

Updike, formerly senior vice president, director, adult sales, will become president of sales for Penguin Random House U.S. Now reporting to Updike are Felicia Frazier, senior vice president, director, Penguin Random House Young Readers Sales; and Cyrus Kheradi, senior vice president, director, Penguin Random House International Sales and marketing and director, East Asia Business Development.  The Penguin and Random House Adult Sales and Special Markets teams will continue to report to Updike.

Now reporting to Dohle is Nina von Moltke, who is continuing in her role as senior vice president, digital publishing development.