Publishing: Penguin Random House Raises Claire Von Schilling, Praises Stuart Applebaum

Markus Dohle, CEO of Pearson plc’s Penguin Random House,  announced this morning a changing of the guard at the publishing giant, marking the end of one era and the transition to another. Key in the statement is the appointment of Claire von Schilling to the position of senior v.p. and director of corporate communications. She’s been at the company for three years, following stints at Bertelsmann and Sony Music.

Stuart Applebaum — Von Schilling’s colleague and a fixture in New York publishing and media circles for more than four decades — gets the new title of emeritus executive v.p., corporate communications.

“From his office and online, Stuart will continue the excellent collaboration he has with Claire, advising her and working with our colleagues on key communications issues and opportunities,” Dohle said in the announcement. Schilling will head up external and internal communications, branding, and corporate social responsibility, including charitable giving. “She will oversee the U.S. communications team and will be responsible for coordinating our global communications efforts, as well, working closely with our shareholders and the heads of communications for each of our territories” Dohle added.

Asked about his own plans, Applebaum told Deadline that he’ll “continue to be full-tilt, full-time at my desk and on mobile in supporting Claire and several buildings-worth of Penguin Random House folk in advancing the telling of our many storylines. I can’t retire because my one good pair of shoes would still automatically walk to our offices without me every morning.” He added that “we have an unusually powerhouse rollout of fall books just ahead,” with authors including Alice Munro, Lena Dunham, Neil Patrick Harris, John Grisham and Norman Lear,” among many others. “We can’t wait for everybody to read them.”