Will Schwalbe will retire as publisher-at-large at Macmillan Publishers, effective January 31 to concentrate full time on writing, though he will continue working with the publisher as an adviser. Schwalbe is also a bestselling author, whose books include END: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do It Better; The End of Your Life Book Club; Books for Living; and We Should Not Be Friends: The Story of a Friendship.
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| Will Schwalbe | |
His publishing career spans decades and includes serving as editor-in-chief at William Morrow and then at Hyperion. He joined Macmillan in 2014 following the company's acquisition of Cookstr, the digital platform he co-founded, and has since held a number of senior editorial and strategic roles.
During his tenure, Schwalbe has acquired and edited high profile and culturally significant books for Macmillan, including a list of cookbooks that includes bestsellers from Jamie Oliver, Meera Sodha, and Nigella Lawson, among others. On behalf of Flatiron Books, he acquired and edited The Moment of Lift and The Next Day by Melinda French Gates, and partnered with her to launch Moment of Lift Books, an imprint dedicated to publishing authors working to unlock a more equal world for women and girls.
In addition to his editorial leadership, Schwalbe "has consistently brought an entrepreneurial and forward-looking perspective to Macmillan," the publisher noted, citing the development of publishing initiatives like the Author Care program and contributing his editorial and creative insight as part of Macmillan's AI & Tech Innovation Steering Committee. He also hosted more than 50 episodes of Macmillan's But That's Another Story podcast.
"Will has been a valued colleague and mentor to many across the company," said Macmillan CEO Jon Yaged. "Always approachable and relentlessly optimistic, Will has a gift for connecting through conversation, even around the most complex ideas. I'm grateful that Will will continue to share his experience and perspective with Macmillan in an advisory capacity even as he devotes himself to his own writing, and I want to thank him for the many contributions he has made to our books, our colleagues, and our company. Please join me in thanking Will and wishing him all the best."