Ford botches Explorer launch, putting CEO back on hot seat

Ford Motor Co.’s Jim Hackett and Wall Street analysts started this year frustrated with one another. Sure, the automaker had been underperforming, but the chief executive appealed for time to show he was fixing things. He assured them the redesigned Explorer SUV rolling out months later would be a proof point. But rather than help the earnings results Ford delivers this week, the Explorer will be a hindrance. Sales have plunged as a plant plagued by personnel problems has struggled to get the new sport utility vehicle out the door. Thousands have been shipped 270 miles away to another Ford factory for rework. The botched Explorer launch puts Hackett back in the position he was early this year—testing the patience of investors. A downbeat assessment of how long it will take to turn the automaker around already cost the company an investment-grade credit rating. By pointing to the SUV as one of the first products he influenced, the CEO staked his reputation on it. "From a design, styling and content standpoint, it hit the marks,” Jeff Schuster, a forecasting analyst for LMC Automotive, said of the Explorer. “But if you can’t get out of the gate, that certainly is going to put some question marks not only on his credibility, but from a consumer standpoint, on the vehicle itself.” The transformation of Ford’s Chicago assembly plant was one of the most complex in the company’s history, a spokeswoman said. The company is shipping the new Explorer— the all-time best-selling... Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-21 21:58:49 UTC ]
News tagged with: #hostile environment #general motors #settle claims #troubled past

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Author T L Swan Launches Publishing Venture, Keeperton

In its first year, Keeperton will publish 10 titles—four of them by Swan, whose Miles High Club series is a BookTok favorite—under its romance imprint, Arndell. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Lavender Rhino, a New LGBTQ Indie Bookstore, Launches Online

The Lavender Rhino, an online independent bookstore with a focus on titles by LGBTQ authors, will launch on April 6, with ambitions to open a brick-and-mortar store at a later date. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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AAP Preliminary Report Puts Religion Book Sales up 7.8% in 2023

Sales of religious books at companies that report results to the Association of American Publishers’ StatShot program rose 7.8% last year over 2022, hitting $819.7 million. It was the largest increase among all publishing categories. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Ex-Sports Illustrated CEO sues 5-hour Energy founder

Metro Detroit billionaire businessman Manoj Bhargava faces a lawsuit tied to his ongoing takeover bid of the former publisher of Sports Illustrated magazine.The lawsuit, filed last week in California in a Los Angeles County court, is brought by Ross Levinsohn, a veteran media executive and the... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2024-03-28 20:07:35 UTC ]
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China’s Book Industry in 2023: Back in the Black

The Chinese book market in 2023 went from negative to positive in its growth metrics, thanks in part to a fast rise in short-video book promotion. The post China’s Book Industry in 2023: Back in the Black appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-28 19:35:32 UTC ]
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Simon Acumen, New Business Imprint, Launches at Simon Element

Simon Element v-p and publisher Richard Rhorer and executive editor Stephanie Hitchcock will lead the imprint, which aims to publish 15–20 "books that help readers navigate the dynamic world of work" per year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Disney Launches Refreshed Disney+ App With Hulu, Shakes Off the Blues

It's not easy being green, so the Hulu integration on Disney+ is going teal. Disney announced the launch today of Hulu on Disney+ in the U.S. for Disney bundle subscribers, combining the Disney+ and Hulu libraries in one application. Although each app remains available... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2024-03-27 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Pope Francis Launches New Book, 'Life,' with HarperCollins

Four HarperCollins executives traveled to the Vatican last weekend to present eight different editions of 'Life, My Life Story Through History' by Pope Francis, which was released on March 19 and is being published in all of the publisher's global markets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Disney Veteran Michael Paull Named RBmedia CEO

RBmedia has appointed Michael Paull, former president of Disney's direct-to-consumer business, as its new chief executive officer, following what the company called “another year of record-breaking growth” in 2023. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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New Books Explore Fundamentalist, Evangelical Trauma

Publishers are tapping into the deep well of hurt, and ultimately, healing with new books from authors who have escaped fundamentalism Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Everyone’s Reading Books About Hot Faeries Now. This Bestselling Author Has Been Writing Them for Decades.

The Prisoner’s Throne author Holly Black reflects on the rise of “romantasy” novels, explicit sex scenes, and BookTok. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2024-03-18 21:31:31 UTC ]
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Gerald Levin, the former Time Warner CEO who engineered a disastrous mega-merger, is dead at 84

Gerald Levin, who led Time Warner Media into a disastrous $182 billion merger with the internet provider America Online, has died at the age of 84 Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2024-03-15 09:02:35 UTC ]
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Sue Arroyo, CEO and Publisher of CamCat Books, Dies at 57

Arroyo, who founded CamCat in 2018 and published more than 100 titles, died on February 26 after a fall. Editorial director Helga Schier said that no decisions will be made about CamCat's leadership until Arroyo's estate is settled. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Q&A: Nielsen’s CEO on Rolling With Massive Changes in 2024

The measurement industry is at an inflection point. In 2021, measurement giant Nielsen lost its third-party accreditation from the Media Rating Council after the company admitted to undercounting audiences, which could've translated to hundreds of millions of dollars in... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2024-03-12 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Zando to Launch New Romance Imprint, Slowburn

With Slowburn, headed up by co-directors Hayley Wagreich and Sierra Stovall, Zando is seizing on the TikTok-fueled resurgence of the romance genre and betting big on author Brynne Weaver, whose dark rom-com 'Butcher & Blackbird' became a bestseller thanks to the app. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Rizzoli International to Launch U.K. Publishing Arm

The London-based Rizzoli UK will be headed up by Stephen King, who has been appointed managing director. The new business will also develop original titles to be published under the Rizzoli Universe imprint. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-07 05:00:00 UTC ]
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RuPaul has launched an online bookshop that will share its profits with writers.

There’s a new online bookstore in town—and this time it’s helmed by RuPaul. Yes, that RuPaul. (Reading being, after all, fundamental.) Allstora, announced today*, is a membership-based bookstore that offers a profit-split to authors. RuPaul serves as Allstora’s Chief Creative Officer and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-03-04 16:45:28 UTC ]
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RuPaul Launches Author-Owned Online Book Marketplace

Allstora, an e-commerce platform with a wholesale membership model, promises to split profits with authors and offer books at steep discounts. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Anjali Singh on Launching Her Own Literary Agency

Singh, an agent at Ayesha Pande Literary and the former editorial director at Other Press, has worn many hats in her 30-year career in publishing. Now, at the helm of the Anjali Singh Agency, she's starting yet another professional chapter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Spotify Launches $9.99 Audiobook Subscription Tier

Spotify has added a new option that gives users 15 hours to listen to audiobooks for $9.99—a dollar less than a Premium subscription, which offers the same 15 hours per month, plus ad-free music, for $10.99. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-01 05:00:00 UTC ]
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