Boom! Studios has just announced a major restructuring, with multiple personnel being integrated into Random House Worlds, the parent imprint of the publisher. There have also been layoffs, including Associate Marketing Manager Anthony Mauro, and Executive Editor Kwanza Osafjeyo.
The remaining moves, announced by Keith Clayton, SVP and Publisher of the Random House Worlds imprint group basically integrate Boom’s publishing, operations, and business planning within the business structure of the Random House World group, which includes RHWorlds, Disney, Inklore, BOOM!, and Del Rey.
It’s a fairly extensive restructuring, and some are wondering is Boom is still an independent imprint. It would seem so, with major moves such as the announcement of the Power Rangers reboot, and much of the core editorial staff – EIC Andy Schmidt, editors Tea Fougner, Sebastian Girner and more still in place. Interestingly, Boom’s success in crowdfunding is being expanded to work with the rest of the imprints in RH Worlds, and Boom personnel are taking over larger duties within the division, with Josh Hayes adding Inklore to his marketing purview.
But as with any massive multinational corporation (PRH is part of the world’s biggest consumer publishing company, Bertelsmann) the org chart is always going to be tinkered with, and a greater integration within PRH seemed inevitable back when Boom was acquired by PRH two years ago. So more to come on all of this.
The changes:
- Michael Kelly will join the Random House Worlds leadership team and continue to lead BOOM! as VP, Publisher, reporting to Clayton.
- Julie Leung, VP, Deputy Publisher, Random House Worlds, will expand her purview to include BOOM!, connecting publishing, operations, and business planning across the RHW portfolio. BOOM! Publishing Manager Olivia Dontsov will now report to Julie. Supporting this structure, Alex Larned has been promoted to Associate Publisher, Del Rey and Random House Worlds, reporting to Leung, with Marcelle Iten Busto, newly promoted to Publishing Associate. Logan Balestrino, Senior Manager, Publishing Operations, Inklore, will also report to Julie, reinforcing consistency across publishing workflows and shared learnings across the imprints.
- BOOM!’s direct-to-consumer and business development efforts will expand to support all Random House Worlds imprints, led by Bryce Carlson, who becomes VP, Business Development & Special Projects, Random House Worlds Group, reporting to Leung. In this role, Carlson will oversee the continued growth of Kickstarter and DTC initiatives and will manage partner and licensor relationships in close collaboration with the editorial teams.
- Sales and distribution for BOOM!, Inklore, and direct-to-consumer programs will be overseen by Josh Hayes, now named Imprint Sales Director, reporting to Cynthia Lasky, EVP, Group Sales Director for RHPG. Austin Yi will move into a new role as Rights Associate, supporting BOOM! rights and reporting to Denise Cronin, SVP, Executive Rights Director.
- The BOOM! marketing team—Marketing Manager Alya Kronsberg and Marketing Associate Grecia Martinez—will join the RHPG marketing group, reporting to David Moench, VP, Senior Director of Marketing and Publicity for Random House Worlds. Community engagement for BOOM! will continue to be led by Adrian Lopez, who will now report to Maya Fenter, recently promoted to Marketing Manager.
The layoffs were tipped on Friday when Mauro posted on LinkedIn:
Hi everyone! I’m seeking a new role and would appreciate your support. If you hear of any opportunities or just want to catch up, please send me a message or comment below. I’d love to reconnect. hashtagOpenToWork
About me & what I’m looking for:
I’m looking for Marketing And Public Relations Manager, Communications Manager, and Marketing Director roles.
I’m open to roles in Portland.
⭐ I’ve previously worked at BOOM! Studios and Dark Horse Comics, LLC.
Our best wishes to everyone who is back on the job market, and we’ll continue to report on the situation as Boom evolves.
