Dane Neller
Dane Joseph Neller | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 30, 1956 Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, business executive |
| Known for | CEO and principal shareholder of Shakespeare & Co., co-founder of On Demand Books |
Dane Joseph Neller (born April 30, 1956) is an American entrepreneur and business executive recognized for his leadership roles at Dean & DeLuca, On Demand Books, and Shakespeare & Co.
As CEO and principal shareholder of the New York-based Shakespeare & Co. bookstore chain, which he purchased in 2015, Neller has overseen its growth to include literary cafés and the integration of a cutting-edge 3D book printing system utilizing recycled paper. This patented technology enables the production of bookstore-quality paperbacks on site. Additionally, he heads On Demand Books LLC, the company responsible for the Espresso Book Machine, an innovation Time magazine named among the “Best Inventions of 2007.”
Early life and education
Neller was born in Evanston, Illinois and grew up in Highland Park, Illinois. He graduated from Deerfield High School before earning a summa cum laude B.A. in political science from Yale University in 1979. He continued his studies with an M.A. awarded with honors in 1980. After completing an M. Litt. in philosophy at New College, Oxford, he returned to Yale to obtain a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.
An accomplished junior tennis player ranked 30th nationally, Neller competed at Yale and served as the top player for Oxford University's Lawn Tennis team.
Career
Following his graduation from Yale Law School, Neller started his professional journey as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley from 1984 to 1987. He subsequently held various positions in investment banking and private equity before acquiring Dean & DeLuca in 1995, where he served as owner and CEO. Together with board chairman Leslie Rudd, he expanded the gourmet food brand from its New York origins into a national and international franchise.
In 2005, Neller divested his stake in Dean & DeLuca to co-found On Demand Books alongside Random House editorial director Jason Epstein. The company developed the patented Espresso Book Machine®, a retail print technology capable of producing perfect-bound books within minutes directly at the point of sale. In 2015, Neller and associates purchased the last remaining Shakespeare & Co. store in the United States, revitalizing it by adding a literary café and incorporating the Espresso Book Machine. The enterprise plans to grow into a nationwide chain and currently operates three locations—two in Manhattan and one in Philadelphia. The EBM provides access to millions of book titles and functions as a platform for self-publishing.
Awards
In recognition of their work on the Espresso Book Machine technology, Neller and partner Jason Epstein were honored with the Creative Disruptor Award in 2011.
Public service
Neller holds a position on the board of trustees for Hunter College in New York City.