Allan among redundancies at PRHNZ

Penguin Random House New Zealand (PRHNZ) had laid off three senior staff, including fiction publisher Harriet Allan, reports Newsroom.co.nz.

Allan had worked for PRHNZ and its earlier incarnations for over 35 years, publishing books by writers including Fiona Kidman, Owen Marshall, Witi Ihimaera and Charlotte Grimshaw. According to Newsroom, the two other staff made redundant worked in sales and publishing.

Author Lloyd Jones said he was ‘very surprised and then sad’ to learn about Allan’s redundancy. ‘We need to think about what has just been shown the door,’ said Jones. ‘In Harriet, years and years of experience, years, decades of fruitful and productive relationships with a range of NZ writers that has been to the betterment of their work. It is a significant loss. Her writers will miss her enthusiasm and her insight.’

Newsroom reported that PRHNZ head of publishing Claire Murdoch will take over the publisher’s fiction list.

Category: Local news