Effective July 1, 2023, Wharton School Press (WSP), the book publishing arm of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, became an imprint of the University of Pennsylvania Press (Penn Press).
This transition builds on a successful two-year partnership in which WSP engaged Penn Press for licensing and distribution services. During this period, WSP published several notable titles, including The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient than Before, by Wharton School Dean Erika H. James and Simmons University President Lynn Perry Wooten. With Penn Press’s support, WSP broke its previous sales records.
“It is a tremendous opportunity to expand on our partnership with Penn Press,” notes WSP publisher Shannon Berning, “Penn Press’s deep knowledge of book publishing and the strategic mission alignment between our organizations will enable Wharton School Press to grow its publishing list and expand the reach of its books as well as Wharton faculty research.”
This strategic alliance aims to leverage the strengths and expertise of both presses to bring even greater value to the global business and scholarly communities. One of the first university presses in America, Penn Press has more than 130 years of publishing experience, publishing 100 new books a year and with an active backlist of more than 3,000 titles. Wharton School Press, established in 2011, publishes a select list of fast-reading, award-winning, and thought-leading books that offer trusted business knowledge to help leaders at all levels meet the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.
With this move, Penn Press will expand upon their contributions in the business, commerce, and economics categories as exemplified by Penn Press’s existing series, which include “Hagley Perspectives on Business and Culture” and “American Business, Politics, and Society.”
As part of this arrangement, Penn Press will take on the operational and financial responsibility for the WSP imprint, including but not limited to sales, licensing, marketing, distribution, warehousing, fulfillment, metadata management, accounting, and royalties management.
“We are committed to maintaining the high standards of quality and reputation associated with Wharton’s brand while utilizing Penn Press’s resources to drive growth and success,” says Penn Press director Mary C. Francis.
The WSP imprint will be led by Berning and retain its editorial autonomy. A Wharton School Press Faculty Editorial Board (FEB) has been established to ensure all acquisitions are worthy of the WSP imprint. The chair of the newly formed FEB will be Mauro Guillén, professor of Management at Wharton and Vice Dean of Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives. Guillén was previously Dean of the Cambridge Judge Business School, and is author of Rude Awakening: Threats to the Global Liberal Order (Penn Press, 2018), 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything (St. Martin’s Press, 2020), The Platform Paradox: How Digital Businesses Succeed in an Ever-Changing Global Marketplace (Wharton School Press, 2021), and the forthcoming The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society (St. Martin’s Press, 2023).
“The partnership between Wharton School Press and Penn Press marks a transformative alliance that will deliver valuable knowledge to a global trade audience and leave an indelible mark on the scholarly community,” says Mauro Guillén, Chair of the Wharton School Press Faculty Editorial Board.
