Rich Johnson has left DC Comics, where he was VP-Book Trade Sales Sales, as of last week. He had shepherded DC graphic novels into this growing channel for a number of years (see 'Graphic Novel Day at Book Expo America,' for example).
Johnson had also been active in sales to libraries, and his absence was noted at the recently completed American Library Association convention.
DC VP Sales Bob Wayne, to whom Johnson reported since a reorganization last year (see 'Interview with DC President Paul Levitz 2005, Part 2'), declined comment on the reason for the departure.
This is the second sales organization shake-up at a major graphic novel publisher this year; Steve Kleckner's departure from Tokyopop was the first (see 'Kleckner Out at Tokyopop'). Kleckner is currently firmly ensconced as VP-Merchandising at Holtzbrinck.
