Penguin Random House’s acquisition of Boom! Studios in July is now complete, and PRH has announced it has hired a new publisher. Michael Kelly has joined the company as publisher, reporting to Jen Harned, president and executive director of business administration and publishing operations for BOOM! Studios.
Harned, who joined Boom as CFO three years ago, will now report to Scott Shannon, president of Random House World, the PRH portfolio of publishers that will include Boom.
Kelly previously served as vice president of Global Publishing at Hasbro, where he was influential in growing the publishing business from $20 million in annual wholesale revenue to more than $200 million and managing the release of more than 1,000 new titles annually. At Boom, he will manage marketing, sales and operations and lead the integration of Boom into the PRH organization.
A new organizational chart for Boom has also been set, with Bryce Carlson promoted to deputy editor and reporting to Kelly, along with vice president of sales Josh Hayes, director of operations for BOOM! Studios Stephanie Lazarski, and director of marketing for BOOM! Studios Ryan Matsunaga. Deputy editor Matt Gagnon and director of design Michelle Ankley will report to Carlson.
Carlson has been promoted from his previous role as vice president of editorial and creative strategy and will continue to develop publishing plans and strategic priorities for the entire editorial team.
Kelly was a well-known executive prior to leaving Hasbro after a 17-year career there. His comic book accomplishments include stints at IDW, BOOM! Studios, Skybound/Image and Marvel, working on brands such as Clue, Jem and the Holograms, Micronauts and My Little Pony. Most importantly, he helped launch Skybound’s hugely successful Energon Universe line with Robert Kirkman. He also launched his own IP licensing/development company, Extensive Enterprises, in April prior to signing with PRH.
Interestingly, back in March, Popverse’s Chris Arant positioned Kelly as a leading talent in the comics industry, writing, “Michael Kelly, former vice president of global publishing at Hasbro, has positioned himself as one of the most in-demand and rarest skill sets in the comics and pop culture publishing industry.”
It seems PRH felt the same way.
As previously mentioned, Boom will now be part of the Random House Worlds division, which focuses on licensed publishing, and we may get our first hints at how the new Boom will operate at the upcoming New York Comic Con.
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