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SCHOLASTIC PROMOTES ELLIE BERGER TO PRESIDENT, TRADE PUBLISHING
Lisa Holton Leaves Scholastic to Launch New Media Venture
New York, NY (October 5, 2007) -- Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today announced that Ellie Berger has been promoted to President of Trade, succeeding Lisa Holton, who resigned her position as President, Trade and Book Fairs to launch a new media venture. Ms. Berger will report to Richard Robinson, Chairman, President and CEO of Scholastic, as will Alan Boyko, who will continue in his role as President, Book Fairs. For the next several months, Lisa will be available to the company in an advisory role.
“I am sorry to see Lisa leave Scholastic, but she has decided the time is right for her to launch her own new media venture,” said Richard Robinson. “At the same time, I know that both inside and outside the company there will be unanimous agreement that Ellie Berger is uniquely qualified to succeed Lisa and to lead our publishing program going forward.”
Mr. Robinson continued, “With more than 20 years experience at Scholastic, Ellie has a depth and breadth of knowledge about every facet of our book business. As Publisher, she has guided the strategic direction of the Trade program, working closely with the editorial staff to acquire, develop and market great books, series and franchises. She has helped to balance the Scholastic portfolio of titles in order to serve the rich diversity of our readers, and has worked closely with all Scholastic channels.
“Ellie is universally respected throughout the industry as the person at Scholastic who makes things happen -- from sales and marketing to publishing, acquisitions and operations. Within Scholastic, Ellie has worked directly with colleagues in every division of the company, earning their deep admiration and trust. I am confident that Ellie will lead us to a strong expansion of our trade publishing program.”
Ellie Berger joined Scholastic in 1985 as Managing Editor and has since held numerous positions at the company. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Berger has been instrumental in negotiating strategic relationships to publish books based on popular properties and expanding the licensed publishing business. She has also been responsible for directing the Klutz® and The Chicken House companies. Since 1998, she has been involved in guiding the complex production and manufacturing operations around the publication of every one of the Harry Potter books including the seventh and final book in the series that broke all publishing sales records when it launched July 21, 2007.
Mr. Robinson added his praise for Ms. Holton’s leadership during the launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. “As recently reported in Scholastic’s first quarter earnings, the release of the seventh Harry Potter book was enormously successful. Lisa’s leadership of the entire Harry Potter team, along with the marketing and distribution strategies that she and the team executed, were instrumental in helping us achieve unprecedented revenue and profit. During her tenure at Scholastic, Lisa contributed significantly to the forward movement of the company and helped position us for our next period of growth. I am grateful for her contributions.”
Since joining Scholastic in May 2005, Ms. Holton has brought in key talent across a number of departments within the Trade division. She worked closely with the Book Fairs group to diversify and deepen the management team as well as extend and expand online marketing activities. She oversaw the acquisition and development of a number of major new series, including Goosebumps Horrorland, which will marry a new line of books with Internet content also written by R.L. Stine, and Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, Meg Cabot’s first series for middle grade girls.
Known for her marketing acumen, Ms. Holton also oversaw the shift to campaigns that combine grassroots outreach with Internet marketing, including the Captain Underpants Purple Potty Bus Tour and The Seven Questions campaign leading up to the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Lisa Holton commented, “I have had a great time at Scholastic and am proud of the many things we’ve achieved. It has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am incredibly excited about exploring the intersection of print and online and look forward to publishing in this new media frontier.”
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com
“I am sorry to see Lisa leave Scholastic, but she has decided the time is right for her to launch her own new media venture,” said Richard Robinson. “At the same time, I know that both inside and outside the company there will be unanimous agreement that Ellie Berger is uniquely qualified to succeed Lisa and to lead our publishing program going forward.”
Mr. Robinson continued, “With more than 20 years experience at Scholastic, Ellie has a depth and breadth of knowledge about every facet of our book business. As Publisher, she has guided the strategic direction of the Trade program, working closely with the editorial staff to acquire, develop and market great books, series and franchises. She has helped to balance the Scholastic portfolio of titles in order to serve the rich diversity of our readers, and has worked closely with all Scholastic channels.
“Ellie is universally respected throughout the industry as the person at Scholastic who makes things happen -- from sales and marketing to publishing, acquisitions and operations. Within Scholastic, Ellie has worked directly with colleagues in every division of the company, earning their deep admiration and trust. I am confident that Ellie will lead us to a strong expansion of our trade publishing program.”
Ellie Berger joined Scholastic in 1985 as Managing Editor and has since held numerous positions at the company. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Berger has been instrumental in negotiating strategic relationships to publish books based on popular properties and expanding the licensed publishing business. She has also been responsible for directing the Klutz® and The Chicken House companies. Since 1998, she has been involved in guiding the complex production and manufacturing operations around the publication of every one of the Harry Potter books including the seventh and final book in the series that broke all publishing sales records when it launched July 21, 2007.
Mr. Robinson added his praise for Ms. Holton’s leadership during the launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. “As recently reported in Scholastic’s first quarter earnings, the release of the seventh Harry Potter book was enormously successful. Lisa’s leadership of the entire Harry Potter team, along with the marketing and distribution strategies that she and the team executed, were instrumental in helping us achieve unprecedented revenue and profit. During her tenure at Scholastic, Lisa contributed significantly to the forward movement of the company and helped position us for our next period of growth. I am grateful for her contributions.”
Since joining Scholastic in May 2005, Ms. Holton has brought in key talent across a number of departments within the Trade division. She worked closely with the Book Fairs group to diversify and deepen the management team as well as extend and expand online marketing activities. She oversaw the acquisition and development of a number of major new series, including Goosebumps Horrorland, which will marry a new line of books with Internet content also written by R.L. Stine, and Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, Meg Cabot’s first series for middle grade girls.
Known for her marketing acumen, Ms. Holton also oversaw the shift to campaigns that combine grassroots outreach with Internet marketing, including the Captain Underpants Purple Potty Bus Tour and The Seven Questions campaign leading up to the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Lisa Holton commented, “I have had a great time at Scholastic and am proud of the many things we’ve achieved. It has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am incredibly excited about exploring the intersection of print and online and look forward to publishing in this new media frontier.”
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com
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