President and publisher of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Dan Farley announced he will be stepping down from his current position.

Farley’s residence is officially California, but his job demands that he spend two weeks per month in New York. He wants to be west coast-based on a full-time basis. Farley’s exit will occur sometime in the next few months after a successor has been secured. Farley first came to Macmillan in 2008 at the Henry Holt imprint. He ascended to publisher before moving to Macmillan Children’s in 2009.

Farley’s memo said: “We’ve determined that my new plans would not mesh with the business needs of the Group…With publishing programs and operations performing effectively, with consolidation richly underway, with smart and well-thought-out strategic planning poised to be implemented, and with our talented and collaborative staff, this seems a positive time to proverbially pass the baton.” (Via Publishers Weekly)