Baker & Taylor Names Jeff Leonard Chief Financial Officer

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor, Inc., the world's
largest wholesale distributor of books and entertainment products, today
announced that Jeff Leonard has been named Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer effective August 11, 2008. Mr. Leonard will report to Tom
Morgan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
"Jeff is an outstanding leader with strong financial and managerial
skills," said Mr. Morgan. "Jeff comes to Baker & Taylor with a tremendous
distribution background from his days at Hughes Supply. His strength in
operations, his breadth of experience in Finance and his recent exposure to
the Publishing Industry should serve us well."
Most recently, Mr. Leonard served as Vice President Finance and Treasurer
of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a leading educational and trade publisher, where
his primary focus was improving working capital, cash forecasting, and driving
integration synergies associated with Houghton Mifflin's acquisition of
Harcourt, Inc. Prior to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, he spent seven years at
Hughes Supply, Inc., one of the nation's largest distributors of construction
supplies. He held various finance roles at Hughes, his last being Vice
President of Operations Finance. In this capacity, he led the finance
organization for Hughes' six business units, partnering with the businesses to
improve return on invested capital and the financial discipline of the
businesses.
Before joining Hughes, Mr. Leonard was the Corporate Controller at Planet
Hollywood, Inc. and an Audit Manager with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He earned
his Master of Accountancy and Bachelor of Science in Accounting degrees from
Miami University.
About Baker & Taylor, Inc.
Baker & Taylor, Inc. (www.btol.com) is a global information and
entertainment services company that offers books, videos, music, games and
services to libraries, educational institutions, and retailers. Based in
Charlotte, N.C., the company has been in existence for over 180 years,
developing long-term relationships with major suppliers, including book
publishers, movie studios, and music labels. Baker & Taylor maintains one of
the largest combined in-stock book, video and music inventories in the United
States, and services the broadest customer base in the industry. Baker &
Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., a leading private
equity investment firm.
About Castle Harlan
Castle Harlan, a leading private equity investment firm founded in 1987,
acquired Baker & Taylor in July 2006. It invests in controlling interests in
the buyout and development of middle-market companies in North America,
Europe, and, together with CHAMP Private Equity, Australasia. Since inception,
Castle Harlan has invested in 49 companies representing more than $9 billion
in enterprise value. Castle Harlan's current portfolio companies, which employ
more than 42,000 people, include Ames True Temper, a leading manufacturer of
lawn and garden tools and accessories; and Anchor Drilling Fluids USA, Inc.,
the nation's largest independent provider of drilling fluids and
fluid-handling services for onshore oil and gas drilling.
SOURCE Baker & Taylor, Inc.

Jenny Johnson of Baker & Taylor, Inc., +1-704-998-3190, johnsoj@btol.com