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Run, ours in Canadian publishing circles that Neale was to be named to the top job were at least partly fuelled by an announcement in early July that several senior Bantam Doubleday Dell executives in the U.S. had been appointed to top positions in the new Random House. In particular, Peter Olson, who oversees BDD worldwide, was appointed chairman and CEO of Random House, and Erik Engstrom, the CEO of Bantam Doubleday Dell North America, was named president and chief operating ofricer of Random House. Engstrom will oversee the operations of both Random House and Doubleday in Canada.
Bantam Doubleday Dell spokesman Stuart Applebaum -- who now also acts for Random House in the U.S. -- downplayed the speculation about Neale, stating that the company had taken no decision about executive appointments in Canada, and that Random House and Doubleday Canada will continue to run separately.