Hachette Book Group Makes Major Staffing Changes Following Union Square Acquisition

Just two months after acquiring Union Square & Co. from Barnes & Noble, Hachette Book Group (HBG) has announced significant staffing adjustments at the unit. Reports suggest that approximately 60 positions—or roughly half of Union Square’s staff—may be impacted. However, HBG refuted these figures, stating, “It is inaccurate and false that 60 employees are being let go. Some impacted employees have been offered other roles within the company and are working with human resources to remain at Hachette Book Group.”

When HBG acquired Union Square in November, CEO David Shelley expressed optimism about the acquisition, emphasizing the potential for mutual growth. “When we make an acquisition, we want to be sure that we can learn a lot from the company, and that we can add value to them with our ability to reach readers internationally,” Shelley said at the time, noting Union Square’s recent growth trajectory.

In a statement addressing the layoffs, HBG described the staffing changes as part of an effort to “maximize synergies and minimize redundancies” as Union Square integrates into the larger organization. Areas such as sales appear to be most affected by the overlap, which is common during corporate mergers.

Grand Central Publishing (GCP) president and publisher Ben Sevier informed employees of the realignments, stating, “After careful review, today we are implementing staff reductions and realignments to ensure that our combined companies are well-positioned for success. These changes align our collective resources, expertise, and operations with our shared goals and vision for the future of HBG.”

Despite the staffing changes, HBG assured that Union Square’s title output and category mix would remain steady. Sevier outlined growth plans that include broadening the distribution of Union Square products, expanding the digital catalog, increasing international sales, and bringing audio publishing in-house.

Additionally, HBG acknowledged impacts to the California-based gift and specialty imprint Knock Knock, which Union Square had acquired two years prior. The ongoing integration of Knock Knock into HBG’s New York publishing operations has affected positions in editorial, marketing, and design. Sevier mentioned that new roles in these areas are likely to be posted soon as the Union Square team fully integrates into the Grand Central Publishing Group.

While HBG aims to position itself for long-term success, the layoffs and restructuring highlight the challenges of merging two companies with overlapping resources. As the changes unfold, the publishing industry will be watching to see how HBG leverages its new acquisition to expand its reach and offerings.