Ned Rust is leaving James Patterson Books, where he was v-p and publisher. Samantha Smith, formerly of Pan Macmillan, will join James Patterson Books on February 3 as the imprint's new vice-president and publisher. She will report to Sally Kim, president and publisher of Little, Brown.
Smith, an American, worked in publishing in the U.K. for nearly two decades. She's published international hits as well as U.K. originals, and has launched two imprints, most recently First Ink. She was shortlisted for Editor of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2022.