One of the world’s most influential publishing houses, Simon & Schuster, has appointed Greg Greeley as its new Chief Executive Officer. The company announced the decision on March 9, 2026, marking an important leadership change for the century old publisher. Greeley succeeds Jonathan Karp, who has led the company since 2020 and will now focus on launching and running a new imprint within the publisher called Simon Six.
The appointment follows a months long leadership search led by the company’s board and its owner KKR, which acquired Simon & Schuster in 2023. By appointing a senior executive with a strong background in technology and global consumer platforms, the publisher is bringing a different leadership perspective into an industry that has been rapidly evolving in recent years.
A Leadership Change at Simon & Schuster
The decision to appoint Greg Greeley stands out because Simon & Schuster has traditionally promoted executives from within its editorial leadership. Many of the company’s past leaders built their careers inside publishing houses, rising through editorial or literary divisions before taking senior executive roles.
Bringing in a technology sector executive reflects the changing realities of the modern publishing industry. Companies are increasingly focused on digital distribution, global reader engagement, and new ways of connecting authors with audiences. Greeley’s career has largely been shaped by businesses operating at the intersection of technology, commerce, and consumer platforms.
Greg Greeley’s Professional Journey
Greg Greeley brings more than two decades of leadership experience from some of the world’s most recognized technology driven companies. He spent nearly twenty years at Amazon, where he held several senior leadership roles and eventually served as Vice President of Amazon Prime.
During that period he worked across multiple parts of Amazon’s global operations including retail, media, and international expansion. His work contributed to strengthening the company’s subscription ecosystem and improving how digital services reach millions of customers worldwide. The growth of online retail and digital platforms during that time also influenced how readers discover and purchase books.
After leaving Amazon in 2018, Greeley joined Airbnb as President of the Homes division. In this role he oversaw Airbnb’s global home rental marketplace and managed teams responsible for expanding the platform’s international operations.
His leadership career later extended into other sectors as well. Greeley served as President and Chief Operating Officer of biotechnology company Opentrons, and later became Chief Executive Officer of Thrasio, a firm known for building and scaling digital commerce brands. Across these roles he gained experience managing fast growing organizations and expanding businesses across international markets.
The Legacy of Simon & Schuster
Established in 1924, Simon & Schuster has played a significant role in global publishing for more than a hundred years. The company is widely recognized as one of the major trade publishers and has produced bestselling titles across fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and investigative journalism.
Its author roster includes widely recognized writers such as Stephen King, Colleen Hoover, and Bob Woodward. Through multiple imprints and international publishing divisions, the company continues to reach readers across global markets.
The publisher celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, highlighting its long standing influence on literature, journalism, and public conversation.
Major Corporate Changes in Recent Years
Simon & Schuster has also experienced major corporate developments in recent years. A proposed merger with Penguin Random House was blocked by United States regulators, after which the company was acquired by KKR in a deal valued at approximately $1.62 billion.
The acquisition positioned Simon & Schuster as an independent publishing company with plans to strengthen its global distribution and expand its presence in digital and audio formats. Against this backdrop, the appointment of Greg Greeley places an experienced technology and business leader at the helm of one of the world’s most historic publishing institutions. His leadership begins at a time when publishers are adapting to changing reader habits, digital platforms, and a more competitive global media landscape.
