Jolly to retire as Scholastic chairman

Scholastic International and Scholastic Australia chairman Ken Jolly has announced his retirement after 46 years with the publisher.

Jolly joined the then H J Ashton Company in 1970 as a teacher consultant, and worked in roles of marketing manager, sales manager, ‘Teacher’s Bookshelf’ editor and general manager before being appointed managing director in 1979. Jolly resigned from the role in 2007 and was appointed chairman.

In a statement Scholastic said Jolly has worked to build the Australian and New Zealand companies ‘into the largest publisher and distributor of children’s books in both countries’, and ‘through his work with Scholastic Book Clubs, Fairs, Education and Trade channels, he has significantly influenced Scholastic worldwide’.

Jolly also established the Scholastic Book Bunkers children’s libraries in three children’s hospitals and with Scholastic supported the Dromkeen Children’s Literature Foundation, both of which contributed to Jolly being awarded an Order of Australia in 2005.

Scholastic chairman and CEO Dick Robinson said in a statement: ‘I have always regarded Ken Jolly as a partner in building the global Scholastic, a colleague who personally exemplifies the values and the unique commitment of Scholastic to children’s reading and learning, and a friend of strong character and belief who has always been a stalwart champion of the company.’

Jolly will continue to advise Scholastic International, and will supervise the non-profit work of Scholastic Australia.

Category: Junior Local news