David Steinberger

David Steinberger is an American businessman, publishing executive, and current Chairman of the National Book Foundation.[1] He previously served as CEO of Arcadia Publishing[2] and CEO of the Perseus Books Group,[3] following leadership roles at Harper Collins[4].[5]In January 2021 he announced a succession plan at Arcadia, handing over day-to-day management to a successor and moving to Arcadia’s Board of Directors.[6]

Early life and education

Steinberger was born in New York. He graduated from Columbia University's School of Engineering and earned an MBA from the Wharton School.[7]

Early career

Steinberger's career began in New York City government where he rose to become Deputy Transportation Commissioner for Bridges.[4] According to the New York Times, Steinberger's willingness to speak openly about public safety concerns contributed to his departure from the position in 1991.[8] After City Government, Steinberger joined management consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton.[4]

Publishing career

In 1996 Steinberger left Booz Allen Hamilton to join the publishing industry as President of the Adult Trade Group at HarperCollins Publishers, a Division of NewsCorp.[4][5] Steinberger became CEO of Perseus Books Group in 2004.[3] After Steinberger completed a series of acquisitions,[9][10][11] Perseus Books was named Publisher of the Year in 2007 by Publisher's Weekly which described the company as “arguably the most important independent publishing company in the nation.”[12] Perseus Books launched digital initiatives which the New York Times described as providing “hundreds of small publishers easier access to digital book technology”[13][14][15][16][17] Books published by Perseus included Friday Night Lights by Buzz Bissinger,[18][19] as well as books by chess champion Gary Kasparov,[20] Nobel Physics Prize-winner Richard Feynman,[21] and Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee.[22] Steinberger sold Perseus Books in 2016 in 2 simultaneous transactions, to Hachette Books Group and Ingram Content Group,[23][24][25] after an earlier attempt at an exit transaction fell through.[26][27]

In 2018, Steinberger and lead investors Michael Lynton , Chairman of Snap Inc., and Lily Lynton assembled an investor group to acquire independent publishing businesses, starting with Arcadia Publishing where Steinberger became CEO.[2] The investor group includes Len Blavatnik,[2] Tony Ressler[2] and Walter Isaacson.[28] Arcadia, noted for its unique approach to publishing hyper-local titles[28][29] subsequently acquired Pelican Publishing,[30] Wildsam[31] and River Road Press.[32] In 2021 Steinberger announced a leadership succession plan at Arcadia, turning over day to day management to a successor and moving to Arcadia’s board of directors.[6]

Steinberger is Chairman of the National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards.[1] During his tenure, the National Book Foundation in 2016 appointed Lisa Lucas as Executive Director, the first Black person and the first woman in that role[33] and launched Book Rich Environments, described by the LA Times as turning “book deserts into literary oases.”[34] Steinberger is also a board member of the Fund for the City of New York.[35]

Personal life

Steinberger is married to Dara Caponigro,[36] the creative director at F. Schumacher & Co., and former Editor-in-Chief at Veranda, Decoration Director at House Beautiful and Style Director at Domino.[37]

References

  1. Kaufman, Leslie (November 11, 2012). "Book Awards Seek a Bigger Splash, Red Carpet and All". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  2. Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (May 2, 2018). "Signs of Life in Book Publishing Draw Big Investors to Startup". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  3. Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg (October 25, 2004). "Buy ... and Buy Again". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  4. Fried, Joseph P. (May 25, 2003). "Following Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  5. Pogrebin, Robin (December 31, 1996). "HarperCollins Trade Unit Head Resigns in 'a Mutual Decision'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  6. Steinberger, David (January 26, 2021). "Steinberger Steps Down, Phillips up as Arcadia CEO". Publishers Weekly.
  7. "Helping the Independent Publisher". The Wharton Club of New York Magazine. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  8. "Opinion | The Bridge Time Bomb Remains". The New York Times. January 14, 1991. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  9. Rich, Motoko (August 1, 2006). "Book Publisher Perseus Acquires Service Provider". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  10. Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (January 22, 2007). "Small Publishers Look to Happy Ending". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  11. "Small publisher enters big leagues". connection.ebscohost.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  12. "Publisher of the Year". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  13. Bosman, Julie (September 3, 2008). "Small Book Publishers Offered New Technology". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  14. Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (September 6, 2011). "Perseus Forms Digital-Services Venture in U.K." Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  15. Bosman, Julie (October 2, 2011). "New Service for Authors Seeking to Self-Publish E-Books". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  16. "Book marketing's next chapter". Crain's New York Business. April 14, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  17. Alter, Alexandra (January 5, 2015). "When Mark Zuckerberg Likes a Book, Sales Soar". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  18. Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg (October 14, 2004). "'Friday Night Lights' Is Publisher's Big Game". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  19. Kelly, Keith J. (July 22, 2015). "'Friday Night Lights' author to publish anniversary edition". New York Post. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  20. Lozada, Carlos. "Garry Kasparov on his next book — and why Putin is like Tywin Lannister". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  21. Wyatt, Edward (April 7, 2005). "The Scientist Is Gone, but Not His Book Tour". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  22. Bosman, Julie (September 16, 2011). "Unusual Benefactor Finances Book Tour". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  23. Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (September 9, 2015). "Perseus Books Hires Greenhill to Advise on Possible Sale". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  24. Alter, Alexandra (March 1, 2016). "Hachette Reaches New Deal With Perseus Books". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  25. Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (March 3, 2016). "Perseus Books Agrees to Sell Distribution Business to Ingram". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  26. Kaufman, Leslie (June 24, 2014). "Hachette Adds Heft to Combat Amazon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  27. Alter, Alexandra (August 7, 2014). "Publisher Hachette's 3-Way Deal to Acquire Perseus Fails". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  28. Charles, Ron. "In the age of distraction, one small publisher keeps local history alive in sepia tones". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  29. Rooney, Kathleen (July 23, 2019). "Letter of Recommendation: Arcadia Publishing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  30. "Arcadia Will Buy Pelican Publishing". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  31. "Move over Google. Travel publishers are teaming up for grittier city intel". Los Angeles Times. August 28, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  32. "River Road Press sold to South Carolina firm and combining its catalog with Pelican Publishing". NOLA.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  33. Williams, John (February 10, 2016). "Lisa Lucas Named Executive Director of National Book Foundation". ArtsBeat. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  34. "A nationwide effort launches to turn 'book deserts' into literary oases". Los Angeles Times. January 5, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  35. "[FCNY] Board Of Directors". www.fcny.org. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  36. "Dara Caponigro, Editor, Is Married". The New York Times. February 16, 1992. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  37. "Schumacher's Creative Director Dara Caponigro Finds Professional and Personal Style Inspiration in the Past". Martha Stewart. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
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