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Publishers and agents have said that they want Waterstone's new managing director Dominic Myers to provide the chain with "fresh impetus" as they assess today (14th January) the shock news about the departure of Gerry Johnson, who had headed the business for four and half years.
The">http://www.thebookseller.com/news/109539-johnson-out-at-waterstones-myer... announcement of the senior management change was made by parent HMV as it revealed its Christmas trading figures, with sales down 9% at the book chain.
David Miller agent at Rogers, Coleridge and White, told The Bookseller: "Whilst no one wants to whoop with the news that Waterstone's sales are down, and coming so soon after the demise of Borders, one only hopes that this gives Waterstone's a fresh impetus to re-engage positively as the prime high street bookseller in this country—to think anew about how it stocks books, promotes authors, do what they did when I first became an agent: actively sell books."
Simon Trewin, head of books at United Agents, said that with Borders having gone "Waterstone's hase a really good opportunity to own the quality end of the high street", adding that he wanted to see the business look back to its golden age when stores were better placed to serve their local communities.
He told The Bookseller: "I'm not convinced endlessly cutting book prices works - it may produce turnover, but not profit, which everyone is looking for. What I hope will happen with the new boss is that he will enable individual stores to serve their local customer base. In the old days I could go to the Hampstead Waterstone's, and see books that appealed to Hampstead people, and so on. That is the opportunity now.
"As consumers we are fed up with the homogenised, one-size-fits-all approach [to bookselling]. I go into Waterstone's Piccadilly every week, its completely empty, but you go into Hatchards and you can hardly get in the door."
Though the loss of Johnson was described as a surprise, few were shocked that Myers had been brought in to replace him. Myers joined Blackwell in 2002, but left in July 2005, pitching up at Waterstone's one year later, before being promoted up the HMV Group ladder. He was described by one observer as HMV Group c.e.o. Simon Fox's "right hand man".
Will Atkinson, sales director at Faber, said Myers knew "the book business reasonably well, and is being trusted by HMV—it’s not an astonishing appointment". He added: "Waterstone's management team is strong—it’s a good team—they know the business well, and I am sure Dominic will make some changes and carry on."
Atkinson had sympathy for Johnson, as did many spoken to by The Bookseller, who did not wish to be quoted. Atkinson said: "Gerry had built a good relationship with the publishing fraternity, he was respected and liked."
Quiller m.d. and Independent Publishers Guild chair Andrew Johnston said he was "very sad to see that [Gerry has left], it’s great shame. Gerry has been a great supporter of the IPG over the years and we will miss working with him". But he added: "We really look forward to working with Dominic Myers. I know him only by reputation, but from everything I have heard and read, I am sure he will be of great benefit to Waterstones in the same way Gerry was when he was there."