Crown Publishing Group Reorganizes, as Horgan Exits

Publishers Lunch

The Crown Publishing Group announced it has made additional changes to its organizational structure that, according to president and publisher Maja Mavjee, will "create an even sharper direction and momentum for each of our publishing areas as we enhance creative collaboration across the Crown Publishing Group while maintaining the diverse category focus that has been a cornerstone of our recent success."

Molly Stern, who as svp, publisher of Crown, Hogarth, and Broadway Books oversees the division's fiction publishing program, will add narrative-based general interest nonfiction to her portfolio, taking on responsibility for the Crown Archetype and Three Rivers Press imprints. Newly reporting to Stern at Crown Archetype are vp, executive editor Dominick Anfuso and executive editor Suzanne O'Neill.

Aaron Wehner has been promoted to svp, publisher of Clarkson Potter, Ten Speed Press, and Harmony, which now comprise the division's culinary, health, lifestyle, and four-color illustrated books program. Newly reporting to Wehner are Clarkson Potter associate publisher Doris Cooper and Harmony vp, editorial director Diana Baroni, while associate publisher at Ten Speed Press Hannah Rahill will continue to report to Wehner, with Ten Speed's editorial, publicity, marketing, and design departments newly reporting to Rahill.

Clarkson Potter publicity director Kate Tyler will also now oversee publicity and marketing for Martha Stewart, Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, and all other authors associated with The Food Network brand, while Harmony marketing director Meredith McGinniss will add responsibility for Clarkson Potter, Potter Style, and Potter Crafts.

Tina Constable's role at Crown has changed, with her now overseeing the group's religious publishing program, comprising WaterBrook Multnomah, Convergent, and Image. Constable will also continue to oversee Crown Business and Crown Forum in her position is now svp, Crown Business, Crown Forum, and Religious Publishing. Steve Cobb continues as president of WaterBrook Multnomah, Convergent, and Image, now reporting to Constable. Crown Business and Crown Forum's publicity and marketing team, consisting of Megan Perritt and Ayelet Gruenspecht, will report to Carisa Hays and Donna Passannante, respectively.

Pam Krauss, formerly svp, publisher of Clarkson Potter, will step down from her position to concentrate on developing her own line of books within Potter that, Mavjee said, "will reflect [Krauss's] tastes and interests and take full advantage of her deep editorial experience while furthering our division's market-leading position in the culinary and lifestyle space."

In addition, a number of positions have been eliminated in the reorganization, including those of Crown vp, executive editor Rick Horgan and Clarkson Potter marketing director Maha Khalil. 

On Horgan, who was at Crown for more than nine years, Mavjee praised him for being "a dedicated and exceptionally hardworking colleague" and said he will remain with Crown for a transition period "during which he will complete, with his trademark diligence and care, the editing of his existing roster of forthcoming books."