HMH Strengthens Senior Leadership Team with Strategic Appointments in Consumer Marketing and International Markets

BOSTON --(Business Wire)--

Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) today announced two senior appointments to support its strategic focus on international growth and consumer product development. Mark Short becomes Senior Vice President and Head of International Markets - joining from Pearson Education, while Wendy Bronfin joins HMH from Barnes and Noble to assume the role of Senior Vice President, Consumer Products and Marketing.

Reporting to President and CEO Linda Zecher, Mark Short will lead a global sales, marketing and business development team responsible for extending HMH's global footprint across key markets in Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. Currently based in the UK, Short will focus on driving global sales goals in emerging markets and the development of a strong revenue-sharing partner network throughout the world.

With responsibility for the leadership and development of the company's global, direct-to-consumer marketing strategy, Wendy Bronfin will build a world class team that enables HMH to directly address its expanding consumer audience through traditional and new-media channels - including a new HMH web portal scheduled to launch in March 2013. Reporting to Chief Marketing Officer John Dragoon, Bronfin will focus on bringing HMH's award-winning educational content to parents, teachers, students and lifelong lerners. She will also partner with our Trade and Reference division to build HMH's consumer brand awareness and deliver best-in-class content, products and solutions to new markets, channels and audiences.

"I am thrilled to welcome Mark and Wendy to HMH at such an exciting time in our Company's growth," said Linda K. Zecher, President and CEO. "These appointments demonstrate our strategic focus on revenue opportunities within two major areas - consumer-focused digital product development and international markets beyond the US. I am truly excited by the wealth of experience and expertise that both Mark and Wendy will bring to our organization and look forward to working closely with them as we seek to grow both our trade and K-12 businesses over the coming year."

With over 16 years' experience in the education industry across international markets, Short joins HMH from Pearson Education where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for the company's English Language Learning division. Prior to that, Short held a number of senior regional management, sales and marketing roles across Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Europe as part of Pearson's global education business.

Bronfin joins HMH most recently from BarnesandNoble.com, where as Senior Director of Children's Digital Products, she spearheaded the launch of NOOK Kids in 2010. With almost 20 years' experience in educational product development, Bronfin has managed the development of interactive educational and entertainment consumer products across a number of companies, including Barnes and Noble NOOK, Hooked on Phonics and Children's Television Workshop.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global learning company with the mission of changing lives by fostering passionate, curious learners. Among the world's largest providers of pre-K-12 education solutions and one of its longest-established publishing houses, HMH combines cutting-edge research, editorial excellence and technological innovation to improve teaching and learning environments and solve complex literacy and education challenges. HMH's interactive, results-driven education solutions are utilized by 60 million students in 120 countries, and its renowned and awarded novels, non-fiction, children's books and reference works are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com.