In journalism, August is as close to a slow season as it ever gets in the newsroom. This week, though, that changed in a hurry – with flood waters inundating Louisiana; war raging on in Syria; and fires roaring through southern California. Even the book world came back from vacation to find its way into the headlines.
On Tuesday, Ron Boire, CEO at the Barnes & Noble book retail chain, barely made it to his one-year anniversary before the company’s board had sent him packing. The sudden move makes way for the next B&N chief who will be the third to hold the job in less than three years.
As Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer, tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally reaction to the Boire departure from B&N’s biggest customers ranges from shock to dread.
“The head of one large publisher said he was angered to hear the news because finding and building a new executive team will set B&N back by six months,” Albanese says. “This publisher told PW, ‘I need them to execute on the ground’ during the holidays.”
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Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.