April 12, 2002
Contact: Sarah McConville
Harvard Business School Publishing
617-783-7559
smcconville@hbsp.harvard.edu
Harvard Business School Publishing
Top Publishing Executive to Lead Diversified Business Publishing Enterprise
BOSTON – April 12, 2002 – David A. Wan, currently President of the Penguin Group, the global trade book division of Pearson plc, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation (HBSP).
Mr. Wan will succeed Linda Doyle, 52, who has been HBSP’s President and CEO since 1994. Early last year she announced her plans to depart in 2002 to assume a faculty teaching position at Harvard Business School. The transition will begin in May, with Wan assuming the CEO position on July 1, 2002.
HBSP, a not-for-profit publishing enterprise wholly owned by Harvard University, produces a range of publications and products aimed at improving the practice of management worldwide. They include: Harvard Business Review (HBR), a leading magazine of business thought and practice that publishes the best ideas and research of authors from a variety of backgrounds—the academy, consulting, and the executive suite; HBS Press, publisher of some of the most influential, forward-looking, and best-selling books on business and management; HBSP Newsletters, covering the practical application of management ideas; HBSP Conferences, events for executives that foster dialogue on future trends in business; a broad line of business case studies from Harvard and other institutions and other printed and multimedia teaching materials; and e-learning and e-training applications for corporations and universities.
“We’re delighted that David Wan, one of the publishing industry’s most experienced and accomplished operating executives, is taking the helm of HBSP,” said Dr. James Cash, Chairman of the Board of HBSP. “We’re certain that he will build on the superb trajectory of innovation set by Linda Doyle.”
“Under Linda Doyle’s leadership, HBSP revenue nearly doubled to almost $100 million, as it has expanded into a range of new publishing formats, including newsletters, conferences, and digital publishing. Over the past two years, HBR doubled its frequency to 12 times a year, enabling it to better serve its nearly quarter million influential subscribers around the world,” Dr. Cash said. He also noted that HBS Press will publish 44 books in 2002. Commented Ms. Doyle, who has been associated with Harvard Business School for 27 years, “David’s rich industry experience, together with his global perspective and successful track record leveraging technology in publishing, will enable HBSP to reach customers in new and meaningful ways.”
Mr. Wan accepted the position at HBSP after a ten-month search conducted by the company's Board. Mr. Wan joined Penguin in 1998, first as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer before becoming President in 2000.
Last year, the Penguin group made operating profits of some $120m on revenues of $1.2 billion. Over the last few years, the Penguin group has gained share in all its major markets. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson, the international media company.
He was previously President of K-12 Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster’s umbrella group for elementary and secondary education operations, including Silver Burdett Ginn, Prentice Hall School, Globe Fearon and Cobblestone. Mr. Wan joined Simon & Schuster in 1989 and held a number of senior positions there. He has been a Vice President in finance at Salomon Brothers and held planning and financial positions at Paine Webber and PepsiCo, Inc. A native of New York City, he holds an MBA from Harvard Business School—as does his wife, Cindy Horowitz—and a BA in engineering and applied science from Yale University.
Said Mr. Wan, “HBSP is one of the most valuable and effective forces in management thinking. I’m excited to be involved in leading the organization that makes business leaders’ insights, experiences, and lessons learned available to a range of audiences, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to expand, deepen, and continue to refine our role among business leaders, decision makers, and academics.”
Ms. Doyle was named President and CEO of HBSP exactly eight years ago. She was previously Associate Dean for Administration at Harvard Business School. Other assignments at the Business School included Adjunct Professor of Business Administration and Course Head for Management Communication. She holds a PhD and MA in English from the University of Notre Dame and a BA in English and history from Mary Manse College.
“Harvard Business School Publishing is an essential part of Harvard Business School’s mission to educate leaders who make a difference in the world,” said Dr. Kim Clark, Dean of Harvard Business School. “We are extremely fortunate to have had the superb talents of Linda Doyle at the helm of this outstanding organization and are delighted to welcome David Wan to HBSP.”
About Harvard Business School Publishing
Headquartered in Boston, Harvard Business School Publishing is a wholly owned, not-for-profit subsidiary of Harvard University. HBSP publishes for the general, professional and academic markets. Offerings include: Harvard Business Review; books from Harvard Business School Press; the newsletters Harvard Management Update, Harvard Management Communication Letter, and Balanced Scorecard Report; HBSP conferences; e-learning programs; cases developed at the Harvard Business School and elsewhere; and a line of multimedia products for management development, videos, simulations, and course books. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu.