World Book Night to Launch in U.S. in 2012

Carl Lennertz to Serve as Chief Executive

World Book Night [1] (WBN), a U.K. charity dedicated to the promotion of books and reading, announced today that the United States is the first international partner to launch World Book Night in 2012, with the aim of giving away one million books across the country. Carl Lennertz, currently vice president for independent retailing at HarperCollins, has been hired as chief executive of the U.S. division of WBN and will start on September 1. He will be supported by a cross-industry steering committee, which is currently in formation.

World Book Night will take place on April 23, 2012 — the international day of the book — in the U.K. and the U.S. The second annual event will build on the huge success of the U.K.’s inaugural event and will further cement its position as a key date in the publishing calendar.

“We always hoped that World Book Night would become a global initiative that truly lived up to its name, said WBN founder Jamie Byng. “And so having the American book industry embrace it so wholeheartedly and Carl Lennertz coming to join the World Book Night team is helping that dream become an even more far-reaching reality.”

Lennertz, who is well known to the U.S. book industry through his years at Random House, HarperCollins, and ABA’s former Book Sense marketing program, said, “I have loved everything about my time at Harper. The books, the people, everything. I am very sad to leave, but I couldn’t pass up this chance to be a part of such an exciting venture as World Book Night in the U.S.  Building on the wonderful success of the first World Book Night in the U.K., we are just at the beginning of our planning here. There will be much more news to report in September, but for now, mark your calendars: April 23, 2012.”

ABA CEO Oren Teicher said, “The American Booksellers Association is absolutely thrilled to participate in the U.S. implementation of World Book Night, and delighted that Carl, our former colleague, will head the effort here. We strongly believe that this kind of effort to promote books and reading is good for the industry and good for the culture.”

Julia Kingsford, chief executive of World Book Night, said,“I’m thrilled to welcome the USA as the first international partner for what we very much hope will become a global celebration of books and reading. The first World Book Night was simply the most extraordinary event celebrating the joy of books and reading and creating a network of passionate booklovers. It is so exciting that in 2012 we’ll be able to build that community internationally and spread a love of reading around the globe.”

World Book Night patrons include Margaret Atwood, Nick Cave, Dave Eggers, Antony Gormley, Seamus Heaney, Lewis Hyde, Howard Jacobson, Andrew Motion, Philip Pullman, Gail Rebuck, Tom Stoppard, Tilda Swinton, Damian Hurst, and J.K. Rowling.