Houghton Mifflin Harcourt K–12 Publishers Appoints Eric Shuman Chief Operating Officer

BOSTON — December 1, 2009 — Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt today announced the appointment of Eric Shuman, former Chief Executive Officer of Thomson Corporation’s Thomson Lifelong Learning & International Group, as the first Chief Operating Officer of its K–12 publishing division.

Shuman will focus primarily on operational excellence of the Company’s K–12 business and will oversee core print publishing, digital products, technology platforms, global supply chain, information technology and customer care. He will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Barry O’Callaghan and will work closely with K–12 President Mike Lavelle and K–12 Chief Financial Officer Mark Schumacher. Shuman will divide his time among the Company’s major office locations in Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois and Texas while Orlando serves as home base.

Shuman, a native of Chelsea, Massachusetts, served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Thomson Learning from 1998–2003 and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Thomson Newspapers from 1995–1998. Throughout his fifteen-year tenure at Thomson, Shuman led several business integrations and restructurings as well as significant mergers and acquisitions activity. Specifically, he developed and executed financial goals, business strategies and new business information systems for Thomson’s academic, international and lifelong learning markets. Shuman also served as a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers from 1987–1992.

“Eric’s legacy of financial and operational success and experience with digital educational solutions makes him a serious asset to the Company,” said O’Callaghan. “With the tremendous success he brought to Thomson Lifelong Learning Group, I’m confident that his expertise and leadership will further catalyze the transformation of our K–12 business.”

Shuman is an active member of the Boston College Capital Campaign Committee and a former member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he has published numerous articles on activity-based cost accounting and spoken publicly on raising capital.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is a global education leader and the world’s largest publisher of educational materials for pre-K–12 schools. The Company publishes a comprehensive set of best-in-class educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for students and educators. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, visit www.hmhpub.com.

CONTACT:
Josef Blumenfeld
Vice President, Communications
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
508-333-0938
josef.blumenfeld@hmhpub.com