IDW Publishing announced six new hires made in recent months, including three in sales positions, with previous experience from Insight, Dynamite Entertainment, and DC Comics, among other companies.  They join three hires (one in Publishing, two in Entertainment) announced earlier in March (see "IDW Announces Three New Hires").

Pat O’Connell joined the company as Direct Sales Manager last fall, responsible for acting as liaison with comic store accounts, supporting other trade sales and marketing, and managing exclusive and convention variants.  O’Connell came to IDW from Dynamite, where he was Sales Manager (see "Dynamite Hires Patrick O’Connell").  He spent six years as a direct sales rep at DC, and started in comics at St. Mark’s Comics, where he was Manager and Buyer.

Alex Hargett joined IDW as Book Trade and Mass Market Sales Director last fall.  In that role she is responsible for sales strategy in both national and international book trade and mass markets.  Most recently, Hargett was Trade Marketing Manager at beauty products company Coty, but she also spent time in trade sales and marketing positions at DC.

Julia Borden has been hired as Foreign Licensing Sales Manager, responsible for all aspects of foreign licensing with international publishers, and for providing support for international English-language distribution.  Borden handled foreign rights and sales at technical publisher No Starch Press, where she managed book trade and mass market slaes, and translation licensing across 30 countries.

Lauren LePera is IDW Publishing’s new Managing Editor, a position in which she will support the EIC and Director of Design & Production by overseeing planning of production schedules, and by facilitating interdepartmental communications.  LePera came to IDW in January from book (and graphic novel) publisher Insight Editions, where she was Managing Editor and Production Editor.

Topher Alford joined IDW as Senior Digital Marketing Manager.  In that role he’ll oversee social media, email marketing, SEO, website content, virtual events, direct-to-consumer marketing and special projects. Alford was Marketing Strategy Manager at DC, a position he left in November.  He also spent six years at Dark Horse Comics as Senior Marketing Manager.

IDW hired Alison Quin as Senior Director of IT/IS, responsible for assessing current and future needs at both IDW Publishing and Entertainment, and implementing and launching new processes and policies.  She arrived at IDW with over 30 years of experience in the information technology and systems field.