That there were layoffs on Tuesday at NewsCorp’s HarperCollins was a surprise to no one paying attention to the book business, or to business in general.
But the extent and ferocity of the cutbacks? That had people in book-land reeling.
Two top executives were out: Collins president and publisher Steve Ross was fired. Lisa Gallagher, who headed the William Morrow imprint, was history.
Sales and marketing personnel were dismissed. What was left of Collins was folded into Harper proper.
Collins itself, whose concept was brought over from England by CEO Jane Friedman four years ago, is now in the past.