Grann, Phyllis (1937–)
Grann, Phyllis (1937–)
English-born publisher. Born Sept 2, 1937, in London, England; dau. of Solomon and Louisa (Bois-Smith) Eitingon; Barnard College, BA cum laude, 1958; m. Victor Grann, Sept 26, 1962; children: Alison, David and Edward.
Began career as Nelson Doubleday's secretary at Doubleday (1958–60); was an editor at William Morrow & Co. (1960–62) and David McKay (1962–70); served as senior editor at Simon & Schuster (1970–76), where she was made editor-in-chief of Pocket Books (1974); joined Putnam Berkley as editor-in-chief of G.P. Putnam's Sons (1976); named president and publisher of the Putnam Berkley Group (1984), then CEO (1987) and chair (1991); was one of the most powerful women in publishing, heading the American operations of the Penguin Putnam Group (1996–2001); became vice-chair of Random House (2001); edited such authors as Tom Clancy, Scott Berg, Dick Francis, Robin Cook, Art Buchwald, Lawrence Sanders, Dean Koontz, and Elizabeth Taylor.