Steve Rosato to Leave BookExpo America

BookExpo America (BEA) announced on Tuesday that Steve Rosato will be leaving his position as the trade show’s event director for a new venture within the publishing industry. Brien McDonald, BEA’s director of publisher and studio relations, will assume Rosato’s duties “to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in the weeks leading up to this year’s Chicago event,” BEA said.

During his 18 years with BEA, at shows in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., Rosato introduced a range of innovations, including the Global Market Forum guest of honor program, the Digital Discovery Zone, UPubU, and Blogger’s Conference. He was also involved in the creation of the IDPF Digital Book Event.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Steve Rosato for many, many years — through all the myriad changes that have confronted the book business,” said American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher. “Throughout it all, Steve’s high degree of professionalism coupled with his commitment to always solving problems has been paramount. Steve’s become a good friend to me, to ABA, and to hundreds of indie booksellers all across the country. We will miss him, but wish him well.”

Former BEA Event Director Lance Fensterman, who now oversees ReedPOP and BEA, said, “Through his service, knowledge, hard work, and, most of all, his care, passion, and good humor, [Steve] has been the face of BookExpo America to so many, including myself and many others within Reed. It’s with a heavy heart professionally, and with great warmth personally, we wish Steve the very best in his new adventure, and I am certain we are not alone in those well wishes.”

“The industry has been very fortunate to have [Steve] leading BEA for so many years,” said Tina Jordan, vice president of the Association of American Publishers. “His knowledge and institutional understanding of the book community has benefitted booksellers and publishers alike…. The news is bittersweet. While we are sad to see him go, we’re thrilled that he will continue bringing his expertise to the book world in his new role.”