If you liked the old Phaidon, the formerly U.K.-based illustrated book publisher—known for lavishly produced books on contemporary art, design, food, and architecture—then you’ll love the new Phaidon. In 2012, the press was acquired by Leon Black, CEO of Apollo Global Management, from Richard Schlagman, who owned Phaidon since 1990. The change in ownership has led to new hires, some restructuring, and a move to new offices in New York, near SoHo—all in an effort to keep Phaidon a leader in the global market for illustrated books. The publisher has an impressive fall list that includes a line of cookbooks by acclaimed international chefs, oversized works on contemporary art and photography, and a big new volume on international interior design.“We still have a London and a U.S. office,” said longtime Phaidon publicity director Liz Thompson, “and we’re still a global publisher, but we’re an American publishing house now.” Since the acquisition by Black, the company has hired Keith Fox as CEO; transferred Emilia Terragani, cookbook and architecture publisher and editorial director, from London to the New York office; and added Regan Arts, a new Phaidon division headed by high-profile editor Judith Regan. The company also hired Deb Aaronson, who was at Abrams, as v-p and group publisher; Emily Takoudes, who was previously at Clarkson Potter, as commissioning editor of cookbooks; and Jacky Klein, who was formerly with Thames and Hudson, as a commissioning editor of art books for the London Phaidon office.
Publishing the finest new authors in the world–particularly debut and minority authors.
