Editor-in-Chief of Hyperion Will Schwalbe Quits

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By Leon Neyfakh

January 14, 2008 | 12:13 p.m

Editor-in-Chief of Hyperion Will Schwalbe Quits

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Will Schwalbe, editor-in-chief of Disney's publishing arm Hyperion, is leaving the company, according to a memo sent to Hyperion staff today. He has not taken another job elsewhere, the memo said, but is going to "pursue some ideas he has for the next chapter in his career."

Mr. Schwalbe confirmed by phone this afternoon that he is resigning his post.

Here is the full memo:

I'm deeply sorry to report that Will has decided to leave Hyperion, as of January 25, 2008. He isn't leaving for another job; he is leaving to pursue some ideas he has for the next chapter in his career. As you all know, Will is someone with wide-ranging interests that extend beyond the book business, from the Far East to the Internet, and he wants a chance to explore those interests further.

I know you will all join me in supporting Will in his pursuit of what's next. But I know you will also join me in sadness at the thought of not having him as a colleague here. It would be impossible for me to summarize in one memo how much Will has contributed to Hyperion in his eleven years at the company, both in terms of the books he has brought to the house and the intelligence, creativity, and--above all-gracefulness he has brought to the experience of publishing those books.

We all owe Will an enormous debt of gratitude for his time with us, and I hope we can find ways to express that gratitude in the days ahead.