Just in from Media Source, the parent company of Library Journal, School Library Journal, The Horn Book, and other properties.

Steve Zales, New CEO of Media Source

Media Source, Inc., (“Media Source”) appoints Steve Zales as Chief Executive Officer effective today. Zales succeeds Randy Asmo, who steps down after 29 years at Media Source, including 18 years as its CEO. Mr. Asmo will maintain an advisory and board role with the Company.

Zales has proven capability and leadership skills in building highly regarded consumer and business-to-business brands and driving digital innovation across a range of industries. Having been President of Time Warner’s Lifestyle Digital division, VP/General Manager for CNNSI Interactive, and SVP/General Manager for Walt Disney’s ESPN Internet Group, he has deep experience in content and subscription businesses. Zales is a business-builder, innovator and digital transformation specialist with a history of improving revenues and profit performance while delivering valuable customer-focused solutions and services.

“I am very excited to lead the executive team at Media Source and help the company deliver further value to librarians and publishers, while supporting Media Source’s mission to inspire readers,” Zales said. “The Company’s long history of identifying and supplying the best in children’s and young adult literature, expert reviews, and a range of valuable services to libraries provides a tremendous foundation for additional services and products. I look forward to enhancing our offering to our customers and end-users to meet their evolving needs.”

Media Source is the market leader in collection development and library management solutions with some of the most iconic brands within the industry. Media Source is a portfolio company of The Vistria Group.

“Media Source is a unique platform that enables librarians and teachers to inspire children and young adults to read and in doing so produces better educational outcomes and consistent with the Company’s mission. We believe that the library will continue to be a very important agent in the movement to student-centered learning,” said Vic Ganzi, who is board Chairman for Media Source. “We thank Randy for his service and leadership, and look forward to collaborating with him as he maintains a board role and shareholder position in the Company. We will build on his great work creating and delivering flexible solutions for our customers.”

Philip Alphonse, who is a board member at Media Source and a Partner at The Vistria Group added: “We look forward to working with Steve to build on the terrific brands that we have at Media Source. These brands include Junior Library Guild, which has long been considered the authority on children’s literature. The Company’s long and successful history includes Eleanor Roosevelt, who as a champion of education, served on the Junior Library Guild editorial board from August of 1929 until her death in 1962. Other Media Source brands, including School Library Journal and the Horn Book, are also well-respected for thought-leadership within the industry. Steve is the perfect executive to build on this strong history.”

About Media Source

Founded over 85 years ago with a focus on children’s and young adult literature, Media Source, Inc. provides leading collection development and library management solutions to over 50,000 school and public libraries. With some of the most powerful brands in the industry, the Company’s fundamental purpose is to help librarians, teachers, parents and others better serve readers’ appetite for lifelong learning and enjoyment. The Company’s leading brands include Junior Library Guild, The Horn Book, Inc., School Library Journal and Library Journal. The Company supports its member schools and public libraries by consistently delivering engaging, award-winning titles and relevant solutions in both physical and digital formats. Members trust Media Source, Inc. to put only the best books in front of readers and to offer the most relevant information for librarians. Visit www.mediasourceinc.com to learn more.

About The Vistria Group

The Vistria Group is a Chicago-based private investment firm focused on investing in middle market companies in the healthcare, education, and financial services sectors. Vistria’s team is comprised of highly experienced operating partners and private equity executives with proven track records of working with management teams in building innovative, market-leading companies.