There is a big change at India's biggest English publishing company. Penguin Random House India's Publisher, Chiki Sarkar, unexpectedly quit the company along with four top executives including managing editor R Sivapriya, senior editor Nandini Mehta along with Jayashree Mohan and Gavin Morris.
While PRHI has not yet appointed anyone to fill in for her, all editorial decisions will be taken by editor-in-chief of literary, Meru Gokhale, editor in chief for commercial and business, Milee Ashwarya, and Associate publisher, Udayan Mitra. All three will report to the company's CEO, Gaurav Shrinagesh.
The news of the exit not only shocked the publishing industry but also Penguin Random House India's management which was at the London Book fair when Sarkar put in her papers.
The team is reportedly headed back to India to take stock of the situation.
Chiki Sarkar's stint with Penguin Random House India began in 2006 . She was the first Editor-in-Chief of Random House and in 2011. Subsequently, she left to become the Publisher of Penguin India where her father, the co-owner of Anand Bazaar Patrika, held a 45% stake. She then took over as the Publisher of Penguin Random House India when the two companies merged globally.
Arguably, the best known face of the Indian publishing industry in recent times, she has been credited for acquiring authors like Ram Chandra Guha and Amitav Ghosh.
While Chiki could not be reached for comments on her exit or future plans, sources indicate that she may be starting her own publishing company soon - an exit which may lead to more exits - of employees as well as authors.
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