Penguin Random House Canada, in what the book publisher is calling a “dynamic new direction,” announced several key appointments on July 18, most notably Jared Bland as publisher of McClelland & Stewart and vice-president of Penguin Random House Canada.

Bland, in this newly created position, will oversee the direction and profitability of M&S, as well PRH Canada’s online magazine, Hazlitt, which now officially will become part of the company’s publishing program. Bland has been arts editor of The Globe and Mail since 2014, starting as the paper’s books editor the previous year. He also briefly held the position of senior editor at House of Anansi Press, and was managing editor of The Walrus magazine. Doug Pepper, publisher of the Signal imprint, and Jordan Ginsberg, editor-in-chief of Hazlitt, as well as the M&S editorial team, will all report to Bland.

In a release announcing the appointment, Brad Martin, president and CEO of PRH Canada, said, “I believe that Jared Bland brings a rare broad range of talent, passion, and experience to his new position as publisher of M&S that will ensure its bright future.”

Two additional appointments were also announced. Martha Kanya-Forstner will take on the role of editor-in-chief of M&S and Doubleday Canada and vice-president of PRH Canada. Kanya-Forstner will acquire and edit books for M&S and Doubleday, working closely with Bland to shape M&S’s editorial vision. Amy Black was named publisher of the Doubleday Canada Publishing Group and vice-president of PRH Canada. Black has spent 15 years with the company, most recently as associate publisher of Doubleday Canada. Black succeeds PRH Canada president and publisher Kristin Cochrane as publisher of Doubleday.

“Even with our robust commitment to M&S’s publishing program over the years, questions have continued to be asked about its future,” said Martin. “Today’s appointments of Jared Bland as publisher and Martha Kanya-Forstner as editor-in chief should silence those questions.”