Annette Danek-Akey

Meet the Logistics Leader Behind the Barnes & Noble Renaissance

After nearly a decade on the brink of extinction, Barnes & Noble is back in business, thanks in part to a new strategy that allows each store to operate like an independent bookshop and stock what readers in their area want. It’s a smart plan, but a challenging one, which is why the bookseller brought Annette Danek-Akey on board as Chief Supply Chain Officer in 2024. The appointment came “at a pivotal moment of growth in the business when the excellence of the supply chain is of central importance to our success,” Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt said. Danek-Akey came from Penguin Random House, where she helped build one of the best supply chains in publishing and was recognized as one of the global top 30 leaders in the industry. So far, the plan is paying off handsomely: Barnes & Noble opened 57 new locations in 2024 and is aiming to open 60 more in 2025.

By Audrey Goodson Kingo