Publishers Weekly is reporting that Lori Benton has been named Vice President and Publisher for the Scholastic Trade Publishing division. She will take over on 3 January 2011, and will oversee the publishing program for all of Scholastic’s imprints.
Benton was previously Vice President and Publisher of Harcourt’s children’s division, and most recently the general manager and publisher of Capstone Publishers’ fiction division. She currently chairs The Children’s Book Council’s non-profit foundation, Every Child a Reader, which is promoting the enjoyment and importance of reading among America’s youth.
Benton is succeeding Suzanne Murphy, who left Scholastic for Disney Publishing earlier this year. In her new position, Benton will report to Scholastic Trade Publishing President Ellie Berger.
Berger said Benton is “one of the most experienced and well-respected executives in the children’s publishing industry. I am thrilled to welcome Lori to Scholastic, where her expertise and enthusiasm will be a perfect addition to our exceptional team.”