The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) has renamed its Industry Champion Award to the Brian F. O’Leary Industry Champion Award in recognition of O’Leary's contributions during his tenure as Executive Director, which concluded on June 30. O’Leary is credited with revitalizing the organization, which aims to foster collaboration, standards, and progress within the book publishing sector.
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The name change was announced at the BISG@50: Book Publishing Next Forum & Anniversary Celebration held on September 16 at The New York Historical, where O’Leary was honored with a commemorative certificate. BISG Board member Ashley Gordon expressed gratitude for O’Leary's decade of leadership, stating, “This recognition comes with our enormous gratitude—not only for what you accomplished during your ten years leading BISG, but for the foundation you helped build for everything that comes next.”
The rebranded Industry Champion Award continues to recognize individuals who support advancements in the publishing industry. Kris Kliemann, chair of BISG’s Rights Committee, was named the recipient for 2026 during the same program.
BISG Executive Director Allison Belan noted that the award reflects O’Leary’s lasting impact on the organization, emphasizing his belief in the strength of bringing diverse perspectives together to tackle industry challenges. During his time at BISG, O’Leary led the organization through significant change and reinforced its role as a neutral platform for collaboration.
Among his initiatives, O’Leary launched Book Publishing Next, which aims to transform the book publishing supply chain to meet future demands. In accepting the honor, O’Leary acknowledged the contributions of volunteers and committee chairs, stating, “Our committee and working group chairs deserve special recognition, as they truly are champions for this industry, dedicating time and resolve to address some of the most pressing problems we face.”