BOOM! Studios has announced the hire of Spencer Simpson in the newly created role of Sales Manager. Beginning January 2018, Simpson will report directly to Filip Sablik, President of Publishing and Marketing, while focused on growing BOOM! Studios’ already expanding book, library, specialty, and mass market footprint.
As a graduate of the University of Alabama, Simpson comes to BOOM! Studios with nearly 20 years of experience in the book market, as a store manager, training manager, and communications coordinator for Books-A-Million, before rising to the position of Buyer at American Wholesale Book Company (AWBC). Beginning in 2011, as the Buyer for Comics & Graphic Novels, he developed AWBC’s comic program at retail bringing single issue comics into Books-A-Million and 2nd & Charles stores. In 2015, Simpson developed and launched AWBC’s variant cover brand, Fried Pie Comics and later spearheaded the first annual Fried Pie Con.
“I’ve been a comic book fan since the day I was born and it’s a thrill to join this industry with the team at BOOM! Studios,” said Simpson. “I’ve been a long-time advocate for their diverse array of titles from Lumberjanes to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to Steven Universe, which have shown me first hand that BOOM! Studios is uniquely positioned to grow with every type of reader in book stores and beyond.”
“This was one of the most incredible years at BOOM! Studios. We’re thrilled to have someone of Spencer’s pedigree and experience join our team as we continue to build our book market team. Furthermore, we’re excited to announce these key hires and promotions that will play critical roles in our ambitious publishing plans for 2018,” added Sablik.
This new hire follows other recent key personnel moves for BOOM! Studios, which included Cameron Chittock being promoted to Editor, Matthew Levine promoted to Associate Editor, and Holly Aitchison promoted to Operations Coordinator. This year also saw 20th Century Fox become a minority investor in the company; the launch of critically acclaimed releases such as Grass Kings, Mech Cadet Yu, Bolivar, Jane and Heavy Vinyl; the announcement of a feature film development slate including Mouse Guard and Goldie Vance; and celebrating over 1,000,000 copies sold of Lumberjanes worldwide.
