From Amazon to the Arthouse

Greeley succeeds Jonathan Karp, the career editor-turned-CEO who has led the “Big Five” publisher through a period of historic turbulence since 2020. In a planned transition, Karp will return to his editorial roots to lead Simon Six, a boutique imprint dedicated to publishing just six high-profile titles a year.

The appointment of the 62-year-old Greeley signals a strategic shift for Simon & Schuster, which was acquired by the private equity firm KKR for $1.62 billion in 2023. While Karp was a quintessential “book man” who rose through the editorial ranks, Greeley brings a resume defined by digital disruption and global scale.

During his nearly 20-year tenure at Amazon, Greeley was a foundational architect of the modern book market. He oversaw the launch of Amazon’s self-publishing and print-on-demand platforms and was a key figure in the creation of Amazon Prime. His background also includes leadership roles at Airbnb, biotechnology startup Opentrons, and the consumer goods company Thrasio.

“Greg Greeley is a talented and strategic leader with wide-ranging experience managing enterprises across physical and digital markets,” said Richard Sarnoff, chair of the publisher’s board of directors. “His depth of expertise and avid love of books give us the confidence that he is the right CEO to take Simon & Schuster forward as it begins its next 100 years.”

Karp endorsed his successor in a statement, calling Greeley “a transformative CEO” and “the best person to take Simon & Schuster to the next level.”

Greeley enters the wood-paneled halls of Simon & Schuster at a moment of profound industry anxiety. Print sales have remained flat, and the publisher’s traditional stronghold—serious nonfiction—has struggled to find traction in a fragmented media landscape.

For Greeley, the primary challenge isn’t just selling books; it’s winning the “war for attention.”

“Even over the last 20 years… readers have more choices than ever—between streaming, gaming, social media, podcasts,” Greeley noted. “Helping the right readers discover the right books is increasingly important. Discovery has always been the central challenge in publishing.”

He also addressed the looming shadow of Artificial Intelligence, a divisive topic in the literary world. While Greeley views AI as a tool for “better distribution” and “new formats,” he was quick to offer a nod to the company’s prestigious roster of authors, which includes Stephen King, Colleen Hoover, and Bob Woodward. “The kinds of ideas and stories that Simon & Schuster will champion will always come from trusted voices,” he said.

The leadership change follows a period of instability for the publisher’s staff. Following the block of a proposed merger with Penguin Random House on antitrust grounds and the subsequent sale to KKR, employees have faced layoffs and the departure of several high-profile editors.

Greeley’s task will be to balance KKR’s mandate for growth—likely through international expansion and acquisitions in popular genres like science fiction and fantasy—with the editorial prestige that has defined the house since 1924.

As Greeley moves into the corner office, Karp is already looking toward the future of his own imprint. Simon Six is set to debut in May with Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter by Neil deGrasse Tyson—a sign that while the corporate structure is changing, the hunt for the next bestseller remains the company’s North Star.