Nihar Malaviya assumes permanent leadership of Penguin Random House

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Nihar Malaviya, the ‘interim’ CEO of Penguin Random House since January this year, will now lead the publishing house permanently as CEO.

A September 18, 2023, press release from the media services group Bertelsmann, that includes Penguin Random House, made the announcement.

Penguin Random House is the world’s largest trade publishing group, and is based in New York.

At the beginning of the year, Bertelsmann made Malaviya, the interim CEO, describing him as an experienced and successful publishing executive.

Now the international media, services and education company has announced that Malaviya will assume responsibility for Penguin Random House on a permanent basis. Malaviya has been a member of Bertelsmann’s Group Management Committee (GMC), a body of top executives that advises the Group’s Executive Board, since his appointment as interim CEO.

“In Nihar Malaviya, the right leader is at the helm of Penguin Random House at the right time,” Bertelsmann Chairman & CEO Thomas Rabe is quoted saying in the press release. “Nihar has proven exactly this over the past nine months, and I am delighted that he is now taking over responsibility for Penguin Random House on a permanent basis.”

Rabe said that as interim CEO, Nihar set an important strategic course. “Most importantly, he has transformed the structures at Penguin Random House so that the publishers and publishing groups can work more creatively and entrepreneurially. I am confident that he will continue to develop the Group with great vigor.”

Prior to joining Penguin Random House on January 1, 2023, Malaviya served as President & Chief Operating Officer of Penguin Random House U.S. since 2014.

During his tenure in publishing, Malaviya is credited with spearheading the creation of a variety of industry-first capabilities in data science, supply chain, technology, and consumer insights.

“The objective was always to reach the widest possible audience for the company’s authors and their books across multiple formats and platforms,” Bertelsmann said.

“As leader of the Penguin Random House Global Executive Committee, Malaviya is focused on elevating the publishing independence and creative autonomy of the company’s imprints and driving the creation of competitive advantages that position the company for growth,” it added.

Malaviya began his career at Bertelsmann in 2001 as a participant in the Bertelsmann Entrepreneurs Program. In 2003, he moved within the group to Random House, successfully taking on a number of leadership positions.

The Indian American is a two-time recipient of the Bertelsmann Entrepreneur Award for Strategy Execution.

He holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the NYU Stern School of Business, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Malaviya also serves on the board of directors of the Association of American Publishers and Yale University Press.A