New York-based Random House, the world’s largest book publisher, looks set to be managed by a European executive from outside the book industry after its chief executive, American Peter Olson, announces his departure in the coming weeks. People familiar with Random House’s parent Bertelsmann said that the German media group had decided against promoting Random House UK head Gail Rebuck or German chief Joerg Pfuhl in order to bring a fresh pair of eyes to the business.

In his first high-profile personnel decision, Bertelsmann chief executive Hartmut Ostrowski is expected to opt for a Germany-based executive from either media services division Arvato, the unit he once ran, or book-clubs unit Direct Group.