Books, Disney, and TikTok have all Contributed to the Simon & Schuster Board

Explore Simon & Schuster's dynamic board of directors, shaping the future of publishing with expertise in books, Disney, TikTok, and more. Discover insights into the book's life cycle and the impact of KKR's acquisition.

on Dec 12, 2023

Books, Disney, and TikTok have all Contributed to the Simon & Schuster Board | Frontlist

The new board of directors for the publisher has knowledge throughout the book's life cycle.
Simon & Schuster named a board of directors on Thursday with experience across the book's life cycle, including traditional publishing, audiobooks, movie spin offs, and TikTok.

The board was formed when the private equity firm KKR purchased Simon & Schuster for $1.62 billion earlier this year. The publisher did not have its own board of directors under its previous owner, Paramount.

"This board will help us be the preeminent publisher," said Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp, who is also a member of the board. "We want to get bigger."

Books, Disney, and TikTok have all contributed to the Simon & Schuster Board.
The new board of directors for the publisher has knowledge throughout the book's life cycle.
Simon & Schuster named a board of directors on Thursday with experience across the book's life cycle, including traditional publishing, audiobooks, movie spin offs, and TikTok.

"This board will help us be the preeminent publisher," said Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp, who is also a member of the board. "We want to get bigger." We want to be the number one choice for authors. And I believe that this board provides us with a window into how people throughout the media landscape are thinking about how books fit into the world."

Three KKR executives will serve on the seven-member board, including Richard Sarnoff, chairman of media in KKR's American division. Mr. Sarnoff, who will lead the Simon & Schuster board, has a long history in publishing, having held prominent posts at Random House, the Association of American Publishers, and Bertelsmann, which owns Penguin Random House.