Publishing company Penguin Random House revealed on Monday that its CEO Nihar Malaviya has been named Publishers Weekly's 2025 Person of the Year for his leadership in defending the freedom to read.

Malaviya's recognition reflects his support for the company's Intellectual Freedom Taskforce, a 20-person cross-departmental team formed in 2023 to combat book banning through author support, legal action, communications and resources.

Under Malaviya's leadership, Penguin Random House has expanded legal and legislative initiatives, joining lawsuits in multiple states, filing amicus briefs and engaging with freedom-to-read legislation. In 2025, the company was directly involved in 12 state-level efforts, achieving passage in seven, and helping defeat eight bills restricting book access in schools and libraries.

The company's work is aligned with broader industry partnerships, including PEN America, the Association of American Publishers, the American Library Association and the National Association Against Censorship, with a focus on protecting access to books for children and communities nationwide.