NATION : Vitale Takes Over Random House
<i> From Times wire services</i>
NEW YORK —
Alberto Vitale, president of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing, today was named chairman, president and chief executive officer of Random House, the nation’s largest general trade book publisher.
The Italian-born Vitale, 55, will take over his posts Jan. 3, succeeding Robert L. Bernstein, 66, who announced his retirement last Wednesday. Vitale’s appointment was announced by S. I. Newhouse Jr., whose family owns Random House.
Bernstein’s retirement had come as a surprise to the publishing world because he had often said he would stay on the job until “they carry me out.” It was ascribed to pressure from Newhouse to step down, which Bernstein denied, saying he had given serious thought to retirement for a long time.
