HarperCollins to Launch Collins Division

Posted on November 19, 2004

HarperCollins Publishers announced that it will launch a Collins division in the U.S., to further the company's Publishing+ initiative to build a global consumer information publishing business. Joseph Tessitore has been named President of this division of the General Books Group. He joined HarperCollins on November 15th, reporting to Brian Murray, Group President of HarperCollins Publishers.

"Collins is one of the most recognized and respected reference brands in the U.K. and around the English-speaking world, but is not an established consumer brand in the United States," said Murray. "We see a tremendous growth opportunity for the Collins brand in the U.S. and globally. Joe, with a combination of reference publishing, direct marketing and magazine experience, is uniquely qualified to lead this effort, working in conjunction with HarperCollins U.K.'s extraordinary Collins team."

Collins U.S. will publish in the reference, lifestyle and wellness categories. In the future, it will also include co-branded and proprietary publishing programs. The branded Collins list will be comprised of approximately 150 titles annually, with the first list launched in Fall 2005.

HarperInformation, which includes the HarperResource, HarperBusiness and HarperSanFranciso imprints, and Harper Design will be incorporated into Collins. Stephen Hanselman, Publisher of HarperInformation and Laurie Rippon, Publisher of Harper Design, will report to Tessitore.

Tessitore served as President of Grolier/Scholastic Publishing from 1994-2001 and President of Prentice Hall Direct for three years. Prior to joining Prentice Hall, he held a variety of marketing positions for publishers including Warren Gorham Lamont, McGraw Hill/Professional & Reference and Standard & Poors/McGraw Hill. Most recently, Tessitore was Vice President - Group Publishing for Reed Business Information, where he oversaw growth strategies for Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal and Criticas.

"Launching Collins in the U.S. fulfills the original vision of the 1989 union of Harper & Row and William Collins," said Jane Friedman, President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers. "Publishing+ has clarified the many benefits of working as a global company. I believe that a true 21st century publisher is a global publisher. HarperCollins is well on its way."



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