Emily Botica, Vice President At Diamond Comics, Is Leaving Next Week

Posted in: Comics | Tagged: diamond, Emily Botica

Now Emily Botica, Vice President at Diamond Comics for eighteen years, is leaving next week

Emily Botica has been at Diamond Book Distributors for 18-and-a-half years, with the last almost eight years as Vice President of Client Services, Before that, she was Director, Sales & Marketing.  Associate Director, Sales & Marketing and Sales Manager. She came to Diamond after six years at Borders as a Marketing Specialist and then Buyer. She has just posted the news that she, along with many others, is out at Diamond. The writing was on the wall; she listed her freelance availability on LinkedIn in March. She writes;

“It is with great sadness that I share the news that I will be leaving Diamond, with my last day likely sometime next week. Over the course of my 18 years with Diamond, it has been an honor and a pleasure to work so closely with so many amazing people and companies. I will always cherish the time we spent together, at shows, game nights, dinners, over drinks, and on calls. Those moments, and the relationships we built, have profoundly shaped who I am today. Just days ago, I had a milestone birthday that brings reflection and a sense of new beginnings. This transition feels like the right moment for change, though it is not without emotion. Those that I’ve worked with mean a great deal to me, and I truly look forward to staying in touch and seeing where our paths cross next.”

It was only a couple of months ago that Emily Botica was declaring, in press releases, that everything was “business as usual” with new “partners”, Ad Populum and Universal Distributors, buying Diamond as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings playing out since the beginning of the year. But two months is a long time in comic book distribution.

Plenty of supportive comments from industry friends and colleagues, including Joe Illidge, Rich Johnson, Atom Freeman, Chris Powell, Joseph Keatinge, Steve Rotterdam, Mike Schimmel, Chip Mosher, Steve Leaf, and Mike Pellerito.

You can use these Diamond tabs to keep up with the latest on the bankruptcy situation at Bleeding Cool and find out how we got here, below.

On the announcement of Chapter 11 on the 14th of January, Diamond started a 13-week bankruptcy process run by financial firm Raymond James, got financing to operate, and announced an auction for its assets.
Those assets included Diamond Comic Distribution, Alliance Gaming Distribution, Diamond Select Toys, CGA and Diamond UK
Universal Distribution was named the Stalking Horse bidder for Alliance Games and Diamond UK, which required a purchase commitment of thirty-nine million dollars, but with certain discounts and privileges for taking that position.
The auction took place, and it went late. There was food and breakfast billed for.
And Alliance Entertainment, or AENT, was named the top bidder for the assets of $72,245,000, though not for Diamond UK. This was widely announced, including by Diamond themselves.
Then we learned that a joint bid by Universal Distribution and Ad Populum came second and was named the back-up bid, with a bid of $69,130,000. With Universal getting Alliance Gaming and Diamond UK, and Ad Populum getting Diamond Comics, Diamond Select Toys and everything else. Basic Fun was third with fifty million.
 Bruce Ogilvie, AENT chairman, was invited onto a podcast with comic book retailers Dennis Barger and Jesse James after, apparently, watching my performance on the Beyond Wednesdays podcast in which he talked about AENT and Diamond.
A court hearing with the Honorable Judge Rice in Courtroom 9-D at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland at 10 am was intended to ensure the legality of the bid and the process.
But instead, over that weekend, the debtors declared that they had chosen the back-up bid from Universal and Ad Populum instead of AENT, despite AENT having bid more. No reason was given.
AENT filed a lawsuit regarding this decision.
It took the bankruptcy court to reverse that decision and state that AENT, with the higher bid, had won, though they would have to withdraw their lawsuit.
AENT has terminated their winning bid and purchase.
Universal Distribution and Ad Populum were back in the running
Diamond declared “business as usual” but the courts threatened Chapter 7 over late paperwork.
AENT sued Diamond, claiming fraud
Diamond says it’s all in hand and went back to court, wanting to be owned by Universal and Ad Populum.
Sale of Diamond to Universal and Ad Populum was approved by the courts.
Though Ad Populum paid more than we thought.
Podcast blamed/credited with the current state of affairs
Diamond tells Skyrush to stop claiming they won CGA.
As part of court filings, Diamond released details for every comic store on account.
We have some finality.
Ad Populum and Universal Distribution officially acquire Diamond and related assets.
The layoffs have begun.
And continue.
Diamond Select Toys has closed
Diamond try and reassure retailers over ComicSuite
Courts withdraw Chapter 7 bankruptcy threat
We look at the future of Diamond Previews again
PRH pulls out of Diamond entirely
Well, not entirely, the UK can stay.
Hermes Press says Diamond doesn’t want to distribute their comics anymore… or anyone’s.
But Diamond pushes back on that, as they publish a new Previews.
And they assure comic book stores that everything is going to be fine. Honest.
Then send a letter to publishers which looks like it isn’t
Now they are looking for more money and longer to pay it back.
Dynamite would like half a million now, please.
Udon and Manga Classic have now cancelled all Diamond orders.
Then so did Drem Productions
And PRH starts to close their special retailer joining offer
Diamond gets a fourth wave of funding and deadlines.
Philbo Distribution launches.
Alliance Entertainment hire seven senior Diamond staffers.
Universal Distribution rumoured to be hiring Diamond staffers to enter the US market.
Massive Distribution expands within Lunar
Diamond has cancelled all their PRH orders.
There are problems with Ad Populum’s first payments to comics publishers
Ad Populum sues AENT alleging breaches of confidentiality and staff poaching.
Ad Populum still ghosting publishers.
Bankruptcy timeline revealed it began in July 2024
Diamond ends cash on delivery sales
Hermes Press hires Steve Leaf
Diamond responds to Dynamite
Diamond closes No Cost Orders, sends out reminder emails to comic book stores
Boom Studios makes layoffs.
Zenescope pulls out of Diamond.
AENT Says Diamond Claim They Poached Staff “Fails As A Matter Of Law”
It’s Claimed New Diamond Owner Said He’s “Playing Chicken With Idiots”
Mike Schimmel Talks, Under Oath, About The Diamond Comics Firings
Dynamite jumps to Lunar Distribution
Diamond takes Previews digital only
Universal Distribution to distribute in the USA as well as Canada, starting with DC Comics
Conflicting Statements Over Diamond, AENT And Ad Populum Lawsuits
This Week, There Are Only Five Comics On Diamond’s FOC
Robert Gorin, Chief Restructuring Officer Of Diamond Comics, And Geek
Titan Has Not Received Payments From Diamond Comics, Stops Supplying
Fantagraphics Says That Diamond Is Holding Their Comics Hostage
Kathy Govier, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Out At Diamond
Confirmed, AENT Tried To Buy Diamond In October To Avoid Bankruptcy
Dynamite Pulls Their Comics Out From Diamond Comic Distributors
Diamond Moves To Liquidate All Consigned Comics “Held Hostage”
FairSquare Graphics Calls Diamond “Thieves & Bandits”, Brings Receipts
Ultimate Comics Chain Refuses To Buy Diamond Liquidation Stock
This One Trick Means Bandai Get Their Pokémon Cards Back From Diamond?
Dren Productions Want To Know If Diamond Shipped Their Recent Comics?
Publishers Have 3 Weeks To Object To Diamond Comics’ Liquidation Plans

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