David A. Wan named CEO of HBS Publishing Corp.

David A. Wan, currently president of the Penguin Group, the global trade book division of Pearson plc, has been named president and chief executive officer of Harvard Business School Publishing (HBSP) Corp. Wan will succeed Linda Doyle, who will assume a faculty teaching position at HBS. Doyle has been HBSP’s president and CEO since 1994. The transition will begin in May, with Wan assuming the CEO position July 1.

A not-for-profit publishing enterprise wholly owned by Harvard University, HBSP produces a range of publications and products aimed at improving the practice of management worldwide. HBSP publications include Harvard Business Review (HBR), HBS Press, HBSP Newsletters, HBSP Conferences, e-learning and e-training applications for corporations and universities, and a broad line of business case studies and other printed and multimedia teaching materials.

“We’re delighted that David Wan, one of the publishing industry’s most experienced and accomplished operating executives, is taking the helm of HBSP,” said James Cash, chairman of the board of HBSP. “We’re certain that he will build on the superb trajectory of innovation set by Linda Doyle.”

Wan accepted the position at HBSP after a 10-month search conducted by the company’s board. Wan joined Penguin in 1998, first as executive vice president and chief financial officer before becoming president in 2000.

Wan was previously president of K-12 Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster’s umbrella group for elementary and secondary education operations. He joined Simon & Schuster in 1989 and held a number of senior positions there. Wan was vice president in finance at Salomon Brothers, and held planning and financial positions at Paine Webber and PepsiCo, Inc. A native of New York City, he holds an M.B.A. from HBS and a B.A. in engineering and applied science from Yale University.

“HBSP is one of the most valuable and effective forces in management thinking,” said Wan. “I’m excited to be involved in leading the organization that makes business leaders’ insights, experiences, and lessons learned available to a range of audiences, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to expand, deepen, and continue to refine our role among business leaders, decision makers, and academics.”