MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
August 7 – 14, 2008 Edition
Rodale Books
Adds Key Editorial
Staff Under Rinaldi
NEW YORK, NY/8/7/2008–Rodale Books has appointed two key vice presidents of publishing this summer, under the new direction of Karen Rinaldi, senior vice president, general manager and publishing director of Rodale Books since this past spring. Colin Dickerman, who worked with Rinaldi at Bloomsbury, will manage the nonfiction list, and Pam Krauss will move from a 20-year-career at Clarkson Potter to oversee Rodale’s illustrated books.
Rinaldi, who moved from Bloomsbury to Rodale, Inc. April 1, has been revamping the staff and refocusing the Book division on core areas of health, lifestyle and cooking, while reaching into narrative nonfiction, an area familiar to her from Bloomsbury days. Rodale shut down its political and current events line, Modern Times, earlier this year, to sharpen its commitment to core areas.
Other new appointees to the Rodale Books editorial team are Andrea au Levitt, new projects director of Prevention Books; Courtney Conroy, returning to Rodale as an editor working with Men’s Health and other magazines to develop branded books on health, fitness, nutrition, lifestyle and wellness. Julie Will remains as senior editor, managing the Biggest Loser franchise.
Bloomsbury has already replaced Dickerman with George Gibson, publisher of sister company Walker & Company. He will be publishing director of Bloomsbury USA.
Rodale, as the largest independent book publisher in the U.S., Rodale publishes practical, hands-on books that "help our readers put their passions into practice."
Rodale aggressively markets its books through both retail and direct-marketing channels, bringing titles such as the runaway hit The South Beach Diet to readers across the globe.
The company completed 2007 with revenues for all company operations increasing 7.8% compared to 2006. Advertising revenues for the company’s magazines were up 23%, while industry advertising revenues were up 5.9%. As the company accelerated its aggressive online strategy, revenues for Rodale’s digital initiatives, including its magazine-branded sites, subscription services Web sites, and direct-to-consumer sales through online channels increased by 70.9% over 2006. Thirteen Rodale Books titles made the New York Times bestseller list and the company acquired more than 5.3 million new customers in 2007. The company employs more than 1000 people.
