Martin Asher

Editors and other staff at the Knopf Publishing Group were informed this morning that Marty Asher, who has served as editor-in-chief of the company's paperback division Vintage Anchor for two decades, had decided to step down in favor of a quieter, less administrative job as an editor-at-large at Knopf.  read more »

Marty Asher, editor-in-chief at paperback powerhouse Vintage Anchor, is stepping down after two decades on the job to take on a role at Knopf in which he will spend more time commissioning and acquiring books.

Vintage Anchor is the paperback division of the Knopf Publishing Group, and has been a major source of revenue for the company. Knopf chairman and editor-in-chief Sonny Mehta announced Mr. Asher's resignation in an e-mail to staff this morning, noting that more changes at Vintage Anchor, including promotions for some of the "very good people who have been Marty's longtime colleagues," will follow.

Mr. Asher has been on sabbatical since the beginning of this year. His number two, LuAnn Walther, has been running the show in terms of editorial work in his absence. 

UPDATE: Ms. Walther has officially been named Mr. Asher's replacement as editor-in-chief. The announcement was made in a memo sent to Knopf Publishing Group employees by Vintage Anchor publisher Anne Messitte shortly after Mr. Mehta sent his.

Ms. Walther will report to Ms. Messitte, rather than to Mr. Mehta directly as Mr. Asher did.  

The memos from Mr. Mehta and Ms. Messitte after the jump.  read more »