Bookshop.org appoints Greko as director of digital products

Bookshop.org has appointed Ami Greko as director of digital products, working on its new digital offering, which is scheduled for early 2024.

Greko will be working on the launch of e-books and audiobooks in the UK, and e-books in the US. She will be reporting to founder and c.e.o. Andy Hunter and will be based in Brooklyn, New York. She will be building the catalogue and marketing the new service to readers.

With over 10 years of experience working in e-books, Greko has most recently worked at Apple in London and the US on their e-book and audiobook platform Apple Books. At Apple, she worked on store merchandising, email marketing, and a number of "unique projects" like a store redesign, the launch of direct sales of audiobooks on the platform and the latest iteration of Oprah’s Book Club.

Prior to Apple Books, Greko had worked as a product manager for Penguin Random House UK’s Author Portal, as well as a book marketing strategist at Goodreads. She also spent several years at Kobo, where she managed their US e-book contacts and was a leading figure in the move into colour e-book content.

She’s had also had various other publishing jobs, including running a poetry blog for Farrar, Straus & Giroux and serving as PR lead for website Tor.com. She also hosted an annual "unconference for books" called Book Camp NYC and has also been an indie bookseller.

Greko’s board positions have included Book Expo America, the National Book Foundation, the Publishers Advertising and Marketing Association, and she has presented on e-books and digital marketing at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Book Expo America, the LA Times Book Festival, and in the UK at HyperIsland’s MA programme.

Nicole Vanderbilt, managing director of Bookshop.org UK, said: “We are excited to work with someone with such a wealth of expertise in e-books and audiobooks, across both the UK and the US. Ami will be spearheading the launch of our new digital products, while our UK team will continue to bring their expertise in marketing, customer service, local liaison and relationship management on the ground.

"We are really looking forward to launching our e-book and audiobook offering next year, and giving book-lovers a whole new way to support indies with their e-book and audiobook purchases.”

Hunter added: “Ami brings the experience and contacts we need to successfully launch digital products on Bookshop.org. I’m glad we found a director with impeccable credentials combined with a genuine passion for indie bookshops and enthusiasm for shaking up the industry in a positive way.”

Greko commented: “Bookshop.org has accomplished so much for indie bookstores in such a short time. Their track record is impressive, and I’m excited to expand that into the e-book and digital audio space.”