Phyllis Grann Retiring From Knopf Doubleday After 40 Years in the Publishing Business

Posted on May 30, 2011

Knopf Doubleday Group chairman Sonny Mehta announced in a letter (PDF) that Phyllis Grann will be retiring after 40 years in the business. She is currently president and CEO of Penguin Putnam Inc. Grann will be stepping down June 9, but she will continue to work with her authors as a freelance consultant and editor.

Phyllis Grann has worked with numerous bestselling authors, including Tom Clancy, Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton, A. Scott Berg, Kurt Vonnegut, Daniel Silva, John McEnroe and Judy Blume.

Grann told Entertainment Weekly that the secret to her success was to develop a close relationship with her writers. She says, "If you're going to generate revenues, you really need to have that close a connection with the writers."