Sydney, London, and New York, December 3, 2014— Dan Ruffino has been named Managing Director, Simon & Schuster Australia it was announced today by Ian Chapman, Chief Executive and Publisher, Simon & Schuster UK and International, to whom Mr. Ruffino will report.

Mr. Ruffino has worked in the publishing industry, in both Australia and in the United States for over 25 years, most recently as Creative Director of the government funded industry-assisting Get Reading! Programme, and which earlier this year was relaunched as Better Reading. Prior to that, Mr. Ruffino had worked as Global Digital Director for the Penguin Group in New York.

“Dan’s many accomplishments and wealth of experience in both traditional and digital publishing will help build on the well-established strengths of Simon & Schuster Australia,” said Ian Chapman. “He is admired and respected throughout the Australian industry and in the UK and the US, and his expertise and drive will be pivotal to the company’s ambitions for even greater success in this key market.”

Mr. Ruffino added: “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead Simon & Schuster’s dynamic team in Australia and New Zealand. I am passionate about connecting writers with readers and look forward to working closely with my colleagues internationally and with local booksellers, authors and agents to continue to accelerate the growth of the business in Australia.”

Mr. Ruffino began his career at Pan Macmillan Australia, moving through sales management to publicity. He then spent two years as Consumer Marketing Manager, overseeing the company’s advertising needs and direct-to-consumer campaigns before moving to Penguin Books where he started the Sydney branch of their successful Business Development unit. In 2003, he joined the Penguin board as Marketing & Publicity Director, where his team twice won Marketing Campaign of the Year awards and also the Hitwise Award for the most visited publishing website.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Ruffino has been involved in the launch of a number of hugely successful bestsellers, and worked on many award-winning marketing campaigns. Among the authors whom he has worked with are Jackie Collins, Lynda La Plante, Richard Flanagan, Kylie Minogue, Ian Thorpe, Steve Waugh, Ken Follett, Wilbur Smith, Paul Keating, Bryce Courtenay, Marian Keyes, Judy Blume, Robert Dessaix, Tim Winton, Kate Grenville, Colm Toibin and Edmund White.

Mr. Ruffino will officially start at Simon & Schuster on January 5. He succeeds Lou Johnson, whose last day in the office will be December 18.

 

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon& Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com

CONTACT:
Anabel Pandiella
Publicity Manager. Simon & Schuster Australia
E-mail anabel.pandiella@simonandschuster.com.au
Telephone +61 (0)2 9983 6654

Hannah Corbett Communications Director, Simon & Schuster UK
Email: hannah.corbett@simonandschuster.co.uk
Telephone: 0207-316-1942

Adam Rothberg
Vice President, Corporate Communications
212-698-1132, adam.rothberg@simonandschuster.com

 

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