Random House Picks Division Chief

Random House President Harold Evans on Thursday named Peter Bernstein, a son of the former chairman, to be publisher of the Times Books division.

Bernstein, 45, an editor at U.S. News & World Report since 1989 and a co-editor of reference books, is a son of Robert L. Bernstein, who led Random House for 23 years, until he abruptly stepped down in 1989 following a dispute with S.I. Newhouse Jr., whose family owns the company.

The announcement appeared to signal Random House’s continued support of Times Books, a nonfiction division whose authors include President Clinton, former President Carter and many journalists.

Publishing insiders had speculated that Times Books would be scaled back, or folded into the larger Random House program, after Peter Osnos announced his resignation as publisher in September to seek other opportunities.