Zareen Jaffery
About Zareen Jaffery
Zareen Jaffery is an Executive Editor at Penguin Random House in New York, with a notable career in publishing, including roles at Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins, and The Walt Disney Company.
Current Position at Penguin Random House
Zareen Jaffery serves as the Executive Editor at Penguin Random House, specifically with Kokila Books, an imprint she joined in January 2020. She is based in New York, where she leverages her extensive editing and publishing experience to acquire and develop content. Her current role involves overseeing a portfolio of books, ensuring they meet the high standards of Penguin Random House.
Career at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Zareen Jaffery held the position of Executive Editor at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers from 2011 to 2019. During her tenure, she worked with notable authors such as Jenny Han, Lupita Nyong'o, and Mary H.K. Choi. She played a significant role in acquiring and editing a number of New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed books.
Previous Editorial Roles
Before joining Penguin Random House, Zareen Jaffery's career included several notable editorial positions. She was the Senior Editor at HarperCollins Publishers from 2008 to 2011, focusing on commercial teen fiction. From 2003 to 2007, she worked at The Walt Disney Company as an Editor, focusing on adult fiction and non-fiction. Her early career began at Harlequin Books as an Editorial Assistant and included an internship at Time Out New York.
Educational Background
Zareen Jaffery earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from New York University. Her formal education provided the foundation for a successful career in the publishing industry, equipping her with the skills necessary for effective communication, critical analysis, and editorial judgment.
Initiatives and Contributions
In addition to her editorial work, Zareen Jaffery co-founded Salaam Reads, an imprint at Simon & Schuster focusing on books about Muslim children and families, in 2016. She has also been actively involved in diversity initiatives, serving on the Children’s Book Council (CBC) Diversity Committee and co-chairing the Diversity within ALSC (Association for Library Services to Children) Task Force from 2016–2017.