Williamsport, Pa. — January 15, 2020. Respected library services vendor Brodart Co. today announced that George F. Coe has been named President and CEO. Coe is the fifth chief executive in Brodart's 80 year history. Coe brings more than four decades of experience in the library industry, including 20 years with Brodart. From 1980 – 2000, he served in a variety of roles at Brodart, including Vice President and General Manager of the Books, Library, and Automation division. Most recently, he was interim President and CEO of Better World Books, until its acquisition by Better World Libraries (an affiliate of Internet Archives). He also spent 17 years at Baker & Taylor, where he served as CEO and President. Following the sale of Baker & Taylor to Follett Corporation in 2016, Coe served as Group President of Baker & Taylor and Follett School Solutions.
Coe is entrepreneurial at heart and continually seeks opportunities to innovate and grow. He was instrumental in bringing about a number of major industry developments, spanning the areas of collection development, custom cataloging, collection analysis, and more. In addition, he is an accomplished executive with a strong track record of developing new products, improving operational efficiencies, and exercising sound financial oversight.
Denise Gatsche, Brodart's Vice President of Human Resources, said, "George has the vision, business expertise, and industry knowledge to fuel Brodart's long-term growth and profitability. We're thrilled to have him and look forward to thriving under his leadership."
Coe says, "I am excited at the opportunity to lead Brodart into the next chapter of its storied history. We're looking to develop and expand all three lines of business — Books & Library Services, Contract Furniture, and Supplies & Furnishings. We will be active and entrepreneurial, as we seek to refine our focus, innovate, and better serve our library and school customers. The future for Brodart is bright."
Coe holds a BS degree from Lycoming College and an MS from Bucknell University. He currently serves on the board for UNC School of Information and Library Science. He formerly served on the Development Board for Public Library Association; Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations; and American Booksellers Association.
About Brodart Co.
Since 1939, libraries have turned to Brodart for everything from shelf-ready books to electronic ordering systems, high quality furniture, and day-to-day supplies. From Brodart's humble beginnings, it has evolved into a full-service library company, serving customers from the Northwest Territories to the Pacific Rim.