Selma Wilson, the new president of Nashville, Tenn.-based religious publisher B&H Publishing Group, recently delivered an assessment of her first 90 days in her role, addressing B&H team members during a Jan. 28 divisional meeting. B&H—a division of LifeWay Christian Resources—produces Bibles, including Spanish-language Bibles, reference books, trade books, academic books and church supplies.
Wilson also announced strategy and leadership changes to enhance the organization's effectiveness and reach built around "a resolve toward missional engagement and ministry and business commitment."
'Faster and Faster' Toward Digital
John Thompson, B&H's vice president of marketing for more than a decade, will assume the role of vice president of acquisitions, while Mary Katharine Hunt, former director of LifeWay Kids in LifeWay's church resources division, will fill Thompson's former position as vice president of marketing. According to Wilson, Hunt's "strengths in new media and digital marketing knowledge and experience as a product development team leader will be a tremendous asset to B&H."
"Publishing is moving faster and faster toward the digital realm and this trend will help us take the message of God's Word to the world," said Hunt, who referred to the work B&H has already done in digital publishing and marketing as "a building block for the future." In addition to the recently launched MyStudyBible.com platform, B&H also has a variety of individually branded applications for Apple's iPhone and iPad, six of which have been ranked among the top 150 paid apps in the books category, with several more in development.
Fidelis Discontinued
Wilson also announced the decision to discontinue the Fidelis imprint. "B&H launched Fidelis Books two years ago to produce quality books for patriotic consumers. We successfully published titles by individuals who shape national opinion. Despite that success, we feel the need to offer greater focus on our base as a distinctively Christian publisher," Thompson explained.
The changes reflect "a team model approach that will strengthen the publisher's mission of engaging people where they live, providing biblical truth that leads to life transformation," according to Wilson.
- Companies:
- Apple
- Lifeway Christian Resources
- Places:
- Nashville, Tenn.