Y.S. Chi to join Random House

Abstract

Y.S. Chi, who has held a number of executive positions in his nine years at Ingram, will join Random House next month as executive v-p and chief operating officer for Random House North America, a newly created position In addition, Chi has been named to spearhead Random House's entry into Asia as president of Random House Asia. Chi will report to Erik Engstrom, president and COO of Random House, while also working closely with Random House chairman and CEO Peter Olson on the company's Asian initiative.

Y.S. Chi, who has held a number of executive positions in his nine years at Ingram, will join Random House next month as executive v-p and chief operating officer for Random House North America, a newly created position In addition, Chi has been named to spearhead Random House's entry into Asia as president of Random House Asia. Chi will report to Erik Engstrom, president and COO of Random House, while also working closely with Random House chairman and CEO Peter Olson on the company's Asian initiative. Chi told PW that the Random House position gives him a unique chance to work with a truly global company and said the company has the means and interest to build a substantial Asian business.

According to Random, while Chi will also begin developing a business model for Random House Asia, his immediate priority will be his North American responsibilities. As COO, Chi will oversee all operations and administrative service and support functions, including such areas as distribution and fulfillment, book production, inventory management, SAP, information systems, human resources, legal and contracts, corporate services and facilities management.

In developing an Asian strategy, Chi will initially concentrate on evaluating start-up and joint ventures in Japan, where Bertelsmann has a minority stake in the publishing and media company Kadokawa; in China, where Bertelsmann has a book-club operation; and in Korea, where Bertelsmann is launching a book club. Chi first joined Ingram in 1992 at Ingram Micro and moved to Ingram's book group in 1996 He most recently served as chairman of Lightning Source as well as president of Ingram Fulfillment Partners. John Ingram, chairman of Ingram Book Group, will add the title of chairman of Lightning Source. Ed Marino will continue as president and CEO of Lightning, reporting to Ingram. -JIM MILLIOT