Amazon's top NY publishing exec to depart

Amazon Publishing, which launched a general-interest book publishing operation in New York two and a half years ago, is losing its top executive here.Seattle-based Amazon announced Friday that the head of its general-interest publishing division, Larry Kirshbaum, would leave the company Jan. 17 and return to being a literary agent.A former Time Warner Book Group CEO, Mr. Kirshbaum was a well known figure in New York publishing circles, and his appointment in May 2011 signaled Amazon's ambition to go toe-to-toe with the major New York houses in acquiring big-ticket commercial titles.Mr. Kirshbaum has been replaced by Seattle-based Daphne Durham, Amazon Publishing editor in chief. In an email, a spokeswoman said Ms. Durham has "already stepped into the role of publisher for our adult trade and children's businesses."A long time Amazon executive Ms. Durham is not well known in New York, according to two veteran New York literary agents.In August, Mr. Kirshbaum was sued for sexual harassment and assault in New York State Supreme Court by a onetime prospective employee. He has denied the charges. “Larry joined us two and a half years ago and has been instrumental in launching our New York office,” the spokeswoman said. “We’re sorry to see him go, and wish him the best of luck as he returns to life as a literary agent.”According to a report Friday in trade website Shelf Awareness, the New York operation will be scaled back with Mr. Kirshbaum's departure. Insiders say it had... Continue reading at 'Crains New York'

[ Crains New York | 2013-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #scaled back #big advances #barnes noble #joint venture #scaling back #ebook format

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