On March 1, 2018, the Board of Directors of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company increased the number of directors comprising the Board from nine to ten members and appointed Jean S. Desravines to the Board to fill the vacancy created thereby, all effective immediately. The Board determined that Mr. Desravines is an independent director under Nasdaq rules and appointed him to serve on the Audit Committee of the Board. He was CEO of the national education nonprofit New Leaders.