Rosato Named BEA Event Director

Steven Rosato has been named event director of BookExpo America (BEA). Rosato began working on BEA in 1998 and has served in a number of key sales and strategic positions. Most recently, as director of industry development and strategic accounts, Rosato played a critical role in helping to define and set BEA's goals for the future based on customer feedback.

"Steve has an incredibly deep knowledge base of book industry issues and he has an intuitive sense of our customers' needs," said Courtney Muller, senior vice president in charge of BEA. "I couldn't be happier that he has achieved this position of leadership for BEA, which he has earned through many years of hard work. Steve has built many strong relationships with people throughout the book industry, and I am confident that he will receive tremendous support from the professional community as he continues to seek ways to make BEA meaningful to our many constituents."

Among Rosato's accomplishments, said BEA, are the expansion of the Global Market Forum program; greatly increased librarian attendance at the show; and the execution of a partnership with the International Digital Publishers Forum, which will be a highlight of BEA 2010. In addition, he has facilitated the participation of all major U.S. publishing trade divisions in BEA and been responsible for the International Rights Center (IRC), as well as fostering relations with the Association of Author Representatives.

The position of BEA event director became open several weeks ago, when Lance Fensterman was promoted to group vice president in charge of Reed Exposition's pop culture business.