Simon & Schuster has named Greg Greeley, a former Amazon executive, as its new chief executive, effective immediately. The 62-year-old succeeds Jonathan Karp, who announced last year he would step down to lead his own imprint, Simon Six, within the company.
Greeley brings a business and investment background to the publisher, having spent nearly 20 years at Amazon, where he served as vice president of Amazon Prime. He later held roles as president of Airbnb's Homes division, president and COO of biotechnology startup Opentrons, and CEO of consumer goods company Thrasio.
Richard Sarnoff, chair of Simon & Schuster's board, praised Greeley's strategic leadership and experience across physical and digital markets, expressing confidence in his ability to guide the publisher into its next century. Greeley, an avid book lover, said he is honoured to steward the company's mission for future generations of authors and readers.
Greeley takes over at a time of rapid change in the publishing industry, with ongoing debates about the role of artificial intelligence in books. Simon & Schuster, which celebrated its centennial in 2024, is home to authors including Stephen King, Colleen Hoover, and Bob Woodward.
