NEW YORK CITY: Some of publishing's most celebrated and enduring editors are leaving Penguin Random House (PRH) after accepting buyout packages. Meanwhile, an undetermined number of company-wide layoffs has begun, according to publishing officials.

Longtime editors of such prominent writers as Anne Rice, Lorrie Moore, and Nobel laureates Alice Munro and Elie Wiesel are among those stepping down by the end of the year. Penguin Random House declined on Monday to comment on any individual staff members, but multiple publishing officials with knowledge of the buyouts confirmed that departing editors include Vicky Wilson, Jonathan Segal and Ann Close. The officials were not authorized to discuss the decisions and asked to not be identified.