Hermes Press has announced that they have hired Steven Leaf as their new Sales Director.  Leaf worked as Manager/Buyer for Book Nook from 1976 to 1991, then as Buyer for CIB & Associates for two years.  He joined Diamond Comic Distributors in October 2009, first in retailer services and then as Assistant Manager in Purchasing, where he worked with Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, CrossGen, Abstract Studios, and other publishers.  His comics cred goes back even further: He read his first comic at the age of 6 and was involved in the Atlanta comics scene, including the Atlanta Comics and Fantasy Fair, as well as the local direct market in the early 1970s.

Leaf posted on LinkedIn last week that he was still employed by Diamond but was open to new opportunities. Alliance Entertainment hired seven former Diamond employees last week (see “Alliance Entertainment Hires Seven from Diamond”), after which Sparkle Pop, the entity used by NECA/WizKids owner Ad Populum to purchase Diamond Comic Distributors, sued Alliance (see “New Litigation Around Diamond Bankruptcy”).