Dispute surrounding former Penguin Canada president David Davidar “settled”, says company official

A woman who left her position with Penguin Canada and launched a lawsuit against the Toronto-based book publisher and its former president has returned to the company, according to a news report.

Penguin revealed in June that Lisa Rundle was no longer director of rights and contracts and that she had filed the suit against David Davidar alleging sexual harassment. But the Globe and Mail reported yesterday (July 7) that Rundle has returned to her former position with the company.

“She wanted to continue to work in the industry and Penguin was the obvious place for her to work,” John Makinson, Penguin Group chair, told the Globe. “And we had settled all our differences with her as part of the general release of liabilities that was agreed to yesterday.”

Davidar, an author of two novels and previous president of Penguin Books in India, had been “asked to leave” Penguin Canada, the company announced last month after it was earlier reported he had decided to leave.

In an email to the Globe regarding Rundle’s lawsuit, Davidar’s lawyer Peter Downard wrote: “All allegations have been addressed and all matters resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.”

Details of the settlement have not been revealed publicly.

Penguin has also reportedly announced Davidar’s replacement will be Mike Bryan, who at present holds Davidar’s former role as head of Penguin India and has been with the company for more than 29 years.