Booksellers are, ‘in the business of community,’ says Allison Hill, ABA’s new CEO.
Catching up with PW's Andrew Albanese
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Coming to Baltimore later this month, the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute welcomes the group’s first female CEO, Allison Hill, who will officially start her new job on March 1, taking over from Oren Teicher, who served as ABA CEO since 2009.
A profile interview of Hill appears Monday in Publishers Weekly, senior writer Andrew Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.
“It’s both a very exciting and a very challenging time for ABA, Hill says, pointing to the growth in small stores,” says Albanese. “She says that it’s pretty clear that for indie bookstores, it’s not just about selling books. Booksellers are ‘in the business of community,’ she says
“As for the chain Barnes & Noble,” Albanese continues, “Hill sounded very positive about what new B&N CEO James Daunt will bring to the table, calling his arrival a net positive for bookselling that will infuse new energy into the ecosystem.”
Hill is currently finishing up her duties as president and CEO of Pasadena-based Vroman’s, southern California’s largest and oldest independent bookstore, founded in 1894.
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.
