Simon and Schuster Announces New Position: Chief Digital Officer

Posted on February 5, 2008

Simon and Schuster has created a new job position: Chief Digital Officer. Elinor Hirschhorn has been named to the position, which will oversee all of Simon and Schuster's digital projects.

Kate Tentler, senior v-p of S&S Digital, and Sue Fleming, v-p and executive director, online and consumer marketing, will report to Hirshhorn. "Digital initiatives are a top priority for Simon & Schuster, and we are determined to avail ourselves to the maximum extent of the digital era opportunities to find, interact, and deliver content instantaneously and around the clock to readers worldwide," said S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy. According to Reidy, Hirshhorn and her staff will help S&S "develop new businesses, partnerships and publishing paradigms." Reidy explained that while single title online marketing will remain the responsibility of S&S's different imprints, the new digital unit "will act as a support and resource for our divisions, developing cross marketing platforms that the entire company can avail itself of."

The creation of the new title sends a clear signal that Simon and Schuster is embracing new technology and is ready to move into the next era of publishing.